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Airborne
Spread of FMD Virus
Enforcement of Movement Controls
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The proportions of the different susceptible species present within a
country can profoundly influence the types of movement control imposed.
Cattle are generally considered the indicator species for FMD and are
the most likely to develop disease and show clinical signs if FMD is present
in an area. Sheep and goats often represent a hidden reservoir of FMD.
Clinical signs of FMD are often mild or absent in small ruminants. This,
coupled with nomadic husbandry systems, means that sheep are a frequent
source of transmission between countries. Pigs are the producer species
for FMD. Although husbandry systems for pigs rarely involve migration,
pigs infected with FMD excrete large amounts of airborne virus. Under
suitable climatic conditions the risk of airborne transmission of FMD
from infected pigs must be considered.
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