By serving as a fomite that carries a pathogen from one premise to another. As you may recall, a fomite is an inanimate object on which a pathogen can be conveyed. Disease transmission occurs via shared physical contact between the object and the animal. Classic examples of fomites are contaminated footwear, veterinary equipment, needles, clothing, eating or drinking containers, cages, bedding, dander, restraint devices, and transportation vehicles.

In 2001, the international community is facing a crisis of epic proportions. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), caused by an Aphthovirus, has been documented in England, France, the Netherlands, Argentina, China, Cuba, South Africa, and other countries. Unfortunately, at present there are more countries with documented cases than there are countries free of the disease. FMD is classified as a List A disease by OIE. As countries work to contain the disease, an important question remains: how is the disease introduced and spread to new areas? Virus particles remain on footwear, clothing, transportation equipment, and other fomites. Although FMD is not infectious to humans, humans can carry the virus in their nasal passages for up to 28 hours, and may transport the virus on clothing. Because of the high risk of transmission by humans and other fomites, officials are targeting people to try to prevent introduction to more areas. Travelers who have visited FMD-positive countries and who have been on farms or contacted farm animals are required to declare this information at customs. Officials inspect their baggage and disinfect soiled footwear with bleach and detergents. All ruminant and swine products are confiscated, and travelers are asked to wash clothing prior to returning home to an FMD-free area. In addition, travelers are instructed to stay off all farms for at least 5 days after their return.

In addition to monitoring international travelers, officials within FMD-positive countries are working to prevent more widespread occurrence by establishing free zones with border animal movement control and surveillance, slaughtering infected, recovered, and FMD-susceptible contact animals, disinfecting premises and inanimate objects that contact livestock, destroying cadavers, litter, and susceptible animal products in infected areas, and establishing strict quarantine policies.

OIE/FAO World Reference Laboratory’s Foot and Mouth Disease home page: http://www.iah.bbsrc.ac.uk/virus/Picornaviridae/Aphthovirus/fmd.htm

APHIS Foot and Mouth Disease Question and Answer website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/qafmd301.html