Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Alarm Over Recent Outbreak in Germany…

The recent outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease that emerged in Germany after years of dormancy has drawn attention to this disease, which periodically puts the livestock industry at serious risk and calls for the highest level of alertness in the veterinary field. Although not a zoonosis, Foot-and-Mouth Disease is an extremely contagious viral disease (RNA virus, family Picornaviridae, genus Aphthovirus) that affects all cloven-hoofed animals, causing extremely heavy economic damage.
In this regard, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with IZSLER, has made available an updated Operational Manual on Foot-and-Mouth Disease and a distance learning course, “Foot-and-Mouth Disease: A Still Relevant Disease” available online until November 15, 2015.
We would also like to point out, on the website of the European Epidemiological Observatory, a “Preparedness Course on Emergency Measures for Foot-and-Mouth Disease” provided by the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Of particular importance is the acquisition of clinical skills for suspected Foot-and-Mouth Disease infection through the identification and dating of typical lesions, also provided by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with IZSLER.
Enjoy!