Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)

Where it’s found

There was an FMD outbreak in cattle in Indonesia in May 2022. It has since spread to Bali. It is currently present in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of South America.

Australia has had no reported outbreaks.

What it affects

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious virus that can affect all cloven-hoofed animals.

Animals at risk include cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, deer and pigs. It does not affect horses or zebras.

There are several different strains of FMD. It is a serious threat to Australia’s animal health and trade. Few animals die from FMD, but it severely affects animal welfare and production.

FMD is not a food safety concern. It cannot be transmitted to humans through consuming commercially produced meat or dairy products.

How to protect against FMD

Find out how to protect your livestock from possible outbreaks of FMD.

You need to be aware of:

• signs and symptoms of FMD
• how it spreads
• how to prepare your property
• how we keep FMD out of Australia.

See more on foot-and-mouth disease

Report a concern

Report any suspected outbreaks. See how to report a concern.