Foot and mouth disease is very infectious and can be spread by foot traffic, or even by a strong wind. It has proven very difficult to contain and is now present in herds in four countries. The herds were scheduled to be killed immediately to prevent the spread of the disease which affects cloven-hoof animals including pigs, sheep, cows and deer.

The disease itself can have many effects on animals, but usually results in a fever and blistering. This causes the animal pain and suffering, and in dairy cows leads to a decrease in milk production. It may also make an animal leaner and harder to sell on the market. In some cases the animal may die of the disease. The death rate is lower if animals are treated with medicine under the care of a veterinarian. Animals that survive develop antibodies that make them resistant to the disease.

A vaccine is available for the disease, and could be used to prevent its spread. Unfortunately, the vaccine is not perfect - a small number of vaccinated animals may still contract the disease.

Most countries in the world have been certified as free of Foot and Mouth disease. This is accomplished by testing a sample of animals. If the animals show antibodies to foot and mouth, the country cannot be certified as disease-free.

So there are three reasons a country might not be certified as disease-free:

1. The disease is currently active. New cases are being reported. Antibodies to foot and mouth are detected in live animals who appear to be sick.

2. The disease infected the country's animals. Many died, but most survived and are resistant to the disease. These animals do not currently have the disease, but they have developed antibodies for the disease, and that it what the test reports.

3. Animals have been vaccinated for foot and mouth. In the case of human beings, vaccination would be the first solution tried, but in the case of cloven-hoof animals, vaccination would generate antibodies to foot and mouth disease, thereby rendering the country unable to obtain disease-free status.

To regain disease-free status, an affected country has only one option: to kill any animal that could possibly be carrying the disease.

As Argentina, France, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates report cases of Foot and Mouth, watch for the death toll to rise into the millions in attempts to stop the spread of the disease. If they are successful in killing all infected animals, they may be able to regain disease-free status and again trade meat with other countries. If they are unsuccessful at controlling the epidemic, the death toll could rise into the tens of millions.

We can only pray for an end to the suffering for these animals. Their lives are in our hands.