Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak confirmed in China’s Sichuan Province
Coronary band vesicles on the feet of a pig with Foot-and-mouth disease.
Credits: USDA
Chinese agriculture officials are confirming a small outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, according to a Xinhua report Jan. 7.
According to the report, a total of 30 pigs at a slaughterhouse in the city of Guangyuan showed symptoms associated with foot-and-mouth disease on Saturday.
Samples from the pigs were tested by The National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory and were confirmed positive for type O foot-and-mouth disease.
A total of 124 pigs were culled and the affected area was sterilized to help prevent further spread of the virus.
China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) officials say it is now “under control”.
FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hooved ruminants. FMD is not a threat to people and no human health risks are associated with the disease. FMD is caused by a virus. Signs of illness can appear after an incubation period of 1 to 8 days, but often develop within 3 days.
There are seven known types and more than 60 subtypes of the FMD virus. Vesicles (blisters) followed by erosions in the mouth or on the feet and the resulting excessive salivation or lameness are the best known signs of the disease. FMD, however, can be confused with several similar diseases, including vesicular stomatitis and swine vesicular disease. Whenever mouth or feet blisters or other typical signs are observed and reported, laboratory tests must be completed to determine whether the disease causing them is FMD.
Though the virus has a relatively low mortality rate of 2-5%, to stop the rapid spread of the disease, slaughtering of large quantities of animals is required.
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available
Check out The Global Dispatch Facebook page here
Follow The Global Dispatch on Twitter here
