How to control foot-and-mouth disease?

What is Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)?

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock with significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle as well as sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.  The disease spreads very quickly if not controlled and because of this is a reportable disease. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has severe implications for animal farming, since it is highly infectious and can be spread by infected animals through the air or through contact with contaminated farming equipment, vehicles, clothing or feed. Containment demands considerable efforts in vaccination, strict monitoring, trade restrictions, quarantines and occasionally the killing of animals. In a susceptible population, morbidity approaches 100%. Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to the disease than traditional breeds.

FMD is characterised by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. The disease causes severe production losses and while the majority of affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them weakened and debilitated. FMD is found in all excretions from an infected animal. The virus may be present in milk and semen for up to 4 days before the animal shows clinical signs of disease. Animals that have recovered from infection may serve as carriers of the virus.

The organism which causes FMD is aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae. There are seven serotypes (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, Asia1) each one requiring a specific vaccine strain to provide immunity to vaccinated animal.

Where is the disease found?

FMD is endemic in many countries of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Why do we need FMD vaccine and Vaccination Strategies?

Vaccination of susceptible animals against FMD is a well-established strategy for helping to combat the disease in countries using vaccination. The initial measures in the global strategy for dealing with FMD are early detection and warning systems and prevention measures in place according to OIE. FMD vaccine can be used to help control the spread of disease in an outbreak and may be used as an attractive alternative to killing and destroying animals. Vaccines are also used to endemic regions to protect animals from clinical disease. FMD vaccines must closely match the serotype and strain of the infecting strain. Only killed vaccines that have been evaluated for purity, potency, safety and efficacy according to established criteria would be used in vaccination strategies.

Reasons to choose Shchelkovo biocombinat FMD vaccine

Shchelkovo biocombinat is a Russian leader in development and production vaccines against FMD and provision of veterinary services. With more than 90 years of experience and special focus on animal health, we aim to make the best products for veterinarians and owners of livestock enterprises around the world.

Shchelkovo biocombinat has a wide variety of FMD vaccine strains in its collection for endemic territories of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. We always replenish our archive with new, actual strains (types). It gives opportunities to produce finished vaccine for each country according to their demands. FMD vaccine is used to active immunization of cattle against FMD, for disease control by routine vaccination in endemic areas, for limiting the spread of the disease during outbreaks. Our vaccines are inactivated, safe and effective for using in vaccination strategies.

Advantages of Shchelkovo biocombinat FMD vaccine:

• High quality of vaccine

• Flexible production

• Optimal logistics

Products derived from vaccinated animals are safe for human consumption. Thereby the vaccination is the best way to prevent spread of FMD.