Update on epidemiology and control of foot and mouth disease - a menace to international trade and global animal enterprise.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most economically and socially devastating disease affecting animal agriculture throughout the world. This review describes economic impact of disease outbreaks, an update of recent findings in epidemiology of FMD both at International and national level and control of this disease. The etiological agent (FMD virus) is examined in detail at genetic and molecular characterization level and in terms of antigenic diversity.