Risks of spreading foot and mouth disease through milk and dairy products

A review of epidemics of foot and mouth disease (FMD) has highlighted the important role which raw (untreated) milk can play in the spread of the disease in a country which is normally free of FMD and whose cattle are not routinely vaccinated. The greatest hazard is likely to be in the early stages of an outbreak, before disease control measures have been implemented. The spread of FMD through milk can be prevented by the effective application of control measures combined with 'codes of practice' for the treatment of potentially infected milk. The author considers the probable mechanisms of transmission of FMD by milk and dairy products. These mechanisms are based on the quantities of virus excreted in milk, the survival of the virus under various management and manufacturing conditions and the minimum doses required to initiate infection in susceptible animals by different routes. The key points for consideration when making a risk assessment of the importation of milk and dairy products are also discussed.