What can consumers do to help prevent foot-and-mouth disease from occurring in the U.S.?
A. All international travelers coming into the U.S. must state on their Customs declaration form whether or not they have been on a farm or have been in contact with livestock. If they have: * Any soiled footwear must be disinfected with detergent and bleach. * Dirty clothing must be washed and disinfected prior to returning to the U.S. * All international travelers also must declare if they are bringing any meat or dairy products into the U.S. USDA officials will then inspect baggage of those travelers and confiscate products from swine and ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed animals), with the exception of hard cheeses and canned products with a shelf life. * If travelers are around livestock in the UK and other affected countries they should avoid contact with susceptible animals for at least 5 days after returning to the U.S..
