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Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease. The FMD virus causes illness in cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, and other animals with divided hooves. It does not affect horses, dogs, or cats. FMD is not a public health or food safety threat. It is also not related to hand, foot and mouth disease, a common childhood illness caused by a different virus.
FMD is a worldwide concern, as it can spread quickly and cause significant economic losses. While many countries across the globe are dealing with FMD in their livestock populations, the United States eradicated the disease here in 1929. In carrying out our safeguarding mission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works to ensure the continued health of our Nation’s livestock. These efforts include preventing FMD from reentering the country. Factsheet.