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Communicable Disease Control and Environmental Health in North Cumbria

Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak (Last Updated 10th August 2001)

Important Note: Foot and Mouth Disease is almost exclusively an infection of animals. It is not the same as Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, a mild viral condition that sometimes affects children. Although humans are hardly ever infected, the virus is easily spread on contaminated clothing, shoes, cars etc.

This section contains:

Please note: For advice about issues affecting schools, please contact Cumbria Local Education Authority.

For advice about whether or not to hold public functions, please use the DEFRA helpline - 0845 050 4141 or call their local office on 01228 591999

Local Advice Letters etc. for Health Workers in North Cumbria from the Health Authority

Advice Bulletins for NHS

Other Items

Disposal of Carcasses

Support Organisations: for confidential help for those directly affected by the crisis:

Latest Updates on the Epidemic from DEFRA



Facts about Foot & Mouth Disease

 


 

Implications of the Outbreak - DEFRA and DoH Factsheets

1. Facts on the disease
2. How to protect your farm
3. What happens with suspected/confirmed cases
4. Precautions for organised events
5. Restrictions/precautions on outdoor activities in infected areas (no longer available)
6. Advice for people working in the countryside

Government Advice Leaflet (24 April 2001)


 

Useful Links

 

Health Authority New Releases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes on Foot and Mouth Disease from the Public Health Laboratory Service

  • The recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs and cattle has raised the question whether there have ever been cases of this infection in humans. Although there are rare documented cases of human infection, overall the number of cases is extremely small, in relation to the regular exposure of humans to infection through the widespread epidemics in livestock that have occurred in the past, and in other parts of the world.
  • Overall, the risk of human infection is extremely small, and in those rare documented cases where it has occurred, the symptoms have been mild and self-limiting.
  • The last human case reported in this country with laboratory evidence of foot-and-mouth disease occurred in 1967. There were other reports of cases prior to that. However, in many of the reported cases it is unclear whether or not the patient's illness was foot-and-mouth disease or some other condition with similar symptoms.
  • Symptoms in reported human cases have principally been uncomfortable tingling blisters on the hands. Other symptoms reported have included fever, sore throat, blisters also on the feet and tongue. The infection, if not symptomless, is usually mild and transient. It is not dangerous and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, or of transmission through the consumption of meat.
  • By far the most important aspect of the present outbreak is to prevent animals from becoming infected, and further animal to animal transmission. Information on the outbreak and foot and mouth disease in animals can be obtained on the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) web-site at www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/qa1.htm
  • People who are involved in handling infected animals can minimise any possible risk to themselves by maintaining good personal hygiene (such as handwashing and face-washing) and by wearing appropriate protective clothing.
  • Foot-and-mouth disease should not be confused with the human disease called "hand, foot-and-mouth" disease. This is an unrelated and usually mild viral infection principally affecting children and due to an entirely different virus. Foot-and-mouth disease is due to an animal picornavirus while human hand, foot-and-mouth disease is due a human enterovirus, most commonly a coxsackie A virus