This document was produced by the USDA and made available on their website.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service - United States Department of Agriculture

Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Information For Passengers Travelling To The United States From FMD Infected Regions of the World

In response to the increasing number of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks worldwide, travellers to the United States from infected regions need to take steps to help prevent the accidental introduction of the disease into this country.

FMD is not considered a human health risk but humans can carry the virus on their clothing, shoes, body (particularly the throat and nasal passages) and personal items. The disease is extremely contagious and spreads easily among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer. Introduction of FMD into this country would be disastrous to the American livestock industry and wildlife community. For this reason all visits to farms or other livestock facilities in FMD infected areas and all food items and other materials of plant or animal origin in the traveller's possession must be reported on the U.S. Customs Declaration Form upon entering the country.

The following preventive measures should be taken by travellers to the United States from FMD infected countries:

1. Avoid farms, sale barns, stockyards, animal laboratories, packing houses, zoos, fairs or other animal facilities for 5 days prior to travel.
2. Before travel to the United States, launder or dry clean all clothing and outerwear. All dirt and soil should be removed from shoes by thorough cleaning. Luggage and personal items (including watches, cameras, laptops, CD players and cell phones), if soiled, should be wiped clean.
3. Avoid contact with livestock or wildlife for 5 days after arrival in the United States.

Extra precautionary measures should be taken by people travelling from farms in infected locales to visit or work on farms in the United States. It is advisable that employers or sponsors provide arriving travellers with a clean set of clothing that can be worn after the visitor showers and shampoos thoroughly. Visitor's travelling clothes should be laundered or dry cleaned immediately. Off-farm activities should be scheduled for the visitor's first 5 days in-country and contact with livestock or wildlife should be strictly avoided.

4 June 2001