Prevalence and incidence of Foot and Mouth disease

  • Animals naturally affected by Foot and Mouth Disease virus are cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, buffalo, bison, deer, antelope, wild pigs, llamas, alpacas, giraffes, elephants, elk, moles, voles, rats and hedgehogs. Horses are resistant.

  • The highest incidence of disease and deaths is seen amongst young animals.

  • Most adult animals recover from the disease.  Nevertheless, this is a slow process and they may suffer long-term health problems.

  • FMD is endemic in Asia, Africa and most of South America. At this moment Europe, North and Central America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and many of the islands of Oceania are free of FMD.