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FAO Urges Global Action as Foot-and-Mouth Disease Spreads, Threatening Food Security
Rome, May 5, 2025 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has issued a urgent call to action in response to escalating outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) across several regions worldwide. The agency warns that the unchecked spread of this highly contagious animal disease poses a significant threat to livestock production, food security, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
What is Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)?
Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and buffalo. It is characterized by fever followed by the development of blisters in the mouth, on the feet, and sometimes on the teats. While FMD is rarely fatal in adult animals, it causes significant pain and distress, leads to reduced milk and meat production, and can severely impact animal fertility. Young animals are particularly vulnerable and may die from the disease.
Why is FAO Concerned?
The recent surge in FMD outbreaks is causing serious concern for several reasons:
- Rapid Spread: FMD can spread rapidly over long distances through various means, including the movement of infected animals, contaminated animal products (meat, milk), contaminated feed, and even through the air. This makes it difficult to contain and control.
- Economic Impact: Outbreaks lead to significant economic losses for farmers due to reduced production, trade restrictions (countries often ban imports from affected regions), and the cost of control measures (vaccination, culling).
- Food Security Threat: In regions where livestock farming is a primary source of food and income, FMD outbreaks can have devastating consequences for food security, increasing poverty and malnutrition.
- Global Trade Disruption: Countries that experience FMD outbreaks often face bans on their livestock and livestock product exports, severely impacting their economies and disrupting global trade flows.
- Multiple Strains: The FMD virus has several different strains (serotypes) and subtypes, making it challenging to develop effective vaccines that provide broad protection.
FAO’s Proposed Actions
The FAO is urging countries and international partners to take the following steps to combat the spread of FMD:
- Strengthen Surveillance and Early Detection: Improved surveillance systems are crucial for detecting outbreaks early, allowing for rapid response and containment measures. This includes regular monitoring of animal populations, laboratory testing, and reporting of suspected cases.
- Improve Biosecurity Measures: Implementing strict biosecurity measures on farms and at livestock markets is essential to prevent the introduction and spread of the virus. This includes controlling animal movements, disinfecting premises and equipment, and implementing quarantine procedures.
- Vaccination Campaigns: Widespread vaccination of susceptible animals is a key strategy for controlling FMD. The FAO is advocating for the development and use of effective vaccines that provide broad protection against multiple virus strains. They also emphasize the importance of targeted vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas.
- Regional Collaboration: Because FMD often spreads across borders, regional collaboration is essential. This includes sharing information, coordinating control efforts, and harmonizing policies. FAO is encouraging countries to work together to establish FMD-free zones.
- Farmer Education and Awareness: Farmers need to be educated about FMD, its symptoms, and how to prevent its spread. This includes providing training on biosecurity measures, disease reporting, and proper animal handling practices.
- Investment in Research: Increased investment in FMD research is needed to develop more effective vaccines, diagnostic tools, and control strategies.
- Compensation Programs: Governments should develop compensation programs for farmers who lose animals due to FMD outbreaks. This will encourage farmers to report suspected cases and cooperate with control efforts.
The Stakes are High
The FAO emphasizes that controlling FMD is not just an animal health issue; it is a matter of global food security, economic stability, and poverty reduction. Failure to take decisive action will have far-reaching consequences, particularly in developing countries where livestock farming is a lifeline for millions of people. The FAO is committed to working with its member countries and partners to implement effective FMD control strategies and protect livestock populations worldwide.
In short, the FAO is ringing the alarm bell about a growing global problem with Foot-and-Mouth Disease. They are urging governments, farmers, and international organizations to work together to stop the disease from spreading and causing major damage to the world’s food supply and the economies of many countries.
FAO calls for action amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks
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The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-05-05 12:00, ‘FAO calls for action amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks’ was published according to Top Stories. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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