QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH-DISEASE (FMD) AND OF FMD CONTROL BY VACCINATION IN VILLAGES IN NORTHERN THAILAND

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 the villages sur veyed reporting one or more outbreaks in the five years prior to inter view, and 28% of villages reporting outbreaks every year. Outbreaks we re more common in the wet season (June to September) and most outbreak s 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, an d there was substantial variation between villages in the percentage o f animals vaccinated. The main reasons for not vaccinating were the fe ar that vaccination caused abortion, and the fact that animals were di fficult to assemble for vaccination. It was concluded that vaccination cover needs to be raised significantly if FMD is to be effectively co ntrolled.