Foot and mouth disease is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine, which also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed ruminants (horses are not affected). Signs of the disease include fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves; many affected animals recover, but are left weakened and debilitated from FMD.
In Canada, FMD is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act. All suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA.
If your livestock are showing clinical signs of foot and mouth disease, immediately call your private practice veterinarian and your local CFIA district office.
During regular office hours, consult the contact information for your local district offices.
During out-of-office hours, we can be reached at the following after-hours emergency numbers for your region:
- Western Area: 1-866-212-0665
- Ontario: 1-877-814-2342
- Quebec: 1-866-806-4115
- Atlantic provinces: 1-506-381-7683
Services and information
Fact Sheet – Foot and Mouth Disease
Consult this fact sheet for key information about the disease.
Top questions
Consult the FMD emergency preparedness and response page for answers to frequently asked questions.
Producers
What you can do to protect your animals from getting FMD.
Travellers
How you can prevent bringing contaminated food, clothing and equipment to Canada.
Importers
Import requirements for feed and live animals, animal products and by-products.
Veterinarians
Educating livestock owners, providing guidance on biosecurity and detecting suspect cases of FMD.