Questionnaire survey of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and of FMD control by vaccination in villages in northern Thailand

Summary: The authors describe a questionnaire survey of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and of FMD control by vaccination in sixty villages in northern Thailand. FMD was found to be common, with 90% of the villages surveyed reporting one or more outbreaks in the five years prior to interview, and 28% of villages reporting outbreaks every year. Outbreaks were more common in the wet season (June to September) and most outbreaks lasted for four weeks or less. The common sources of the most recent outbreak were the introduction of infected cattle and buffalo from a public market or surrounding village (25 of 60 cases), and commingling of cattle and buffalo with those of an infected neighbouring village (24/60). FMD was not perceived to be a major animal health problem, and there was substantial variation between villages in the percentage of animals vaccinated. The main reasons for not vaccinating were the fear that vaccination caused abortion, and the fact that animals were difficult to assemble for vaccination. It was concluded that vaccination cover needs to be raised significantly if FMD is to be effectively controlled.