If foot-and-mouth disease rarely kills animals, and if people can contract the virus, why is there so much concern about it?
A. Foot-and-mouth disease is a very contagious virus, with nearly 100 percent of exposed animals ultimately becoming infected. If the disease grew to be widespread in any country, the economic impact could be severe. The most serious effects would include severe decline in milk from dairy cattle and goats, decline in meat production, possible sterility of animals, chronic lameness and chronic mastitis among affected.
