Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an extremely contagious livestock illness that causes severe production losses. It affects swine, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, elk and other cloven hoofed animals. FMD is not a risk to human health.

FMD is a reportable disease under the federal Health of Animals Act and Regulations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the lead agency for FMD. Any suspect case must be immediately reported to a CFIA veterinarian.

The disease has not been found in Canada since 1952. Canadian farmers and consumers need to be alert as there has been an increase in the movement of goods between countries, increased international travel and recent outbreaks which raises the risk of FMD entry into Canada.

For more information on FMD, visit the following links:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/fmde.shtml

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food: http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/general/health_management/fmd/index.html

Canadian Cattlemen's Association: http://www.cattle.ca/INDUSTRY/FactSheets/factsheetindex.htm