FAQs

The benefit is realized in a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak when healthy animals are moved to the packer or the next stage of production. The SSWS Plan provides resources to help sheep producers prepare ahead of time rather than during the chaos. Visit the Steps to Move page to learn more about preparing.

There is always a risk of FMD being introduced into the U.S. due to extensive international trade and travel. This highly contagious livestock disease is present in approximately two-thirds of the countries in the world. Research suggests an outbreak in the U.S. could result in losses of $15 to $100 billion. The American Sheep Industry Assocation values preparedness and funded the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan to help producers prepare. Visit the Steps to Move page and start preparing today!

The cost varies depending on your level of preparedness. Preparedness is similar to insurance. There is a cost investment relative to the assets that need protection. It is hard to put an exact dollar value on it, but preparing before an outbreak could be a great investment.Visit the Steps to Move page to learn more about preparing.

• Requesting a premises identification number (PIN) is free.
• Putting all of the biosecurity measures in place to keep foot and mouth (FMD) off a site can be expensive. However, writing an enhanced biosecurity plan ahead of time costs very little. 
  

The SSWS Plan provides guidance only with opportunities to voluntarily prepare before a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Each state can determine what guidance to use. Contact your State Animal Health Official to discuss what might be required in an outbreak.

The SSWS Plan was developed nationally and each state can determine what guidance to use. Contact your State Animal Health Official to discuss your animal movement needs and learn what might be required in an outbreak.

Some States are conducting audits or pre-certification prior to a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. This may involve visiting the premises, reviewing the enhanced biosecurity plan, and discussing animal movement on and off the premises. Contact your State Animal Health Official to ask if auditing or pre-certification is being done.

PINs serve as a method of locating animals in a Control Area during an outbreak and are also included on movement permits. It is important that the PIN reflect the actual location of the animals (latitude, longitude). If you have multiple or adjoining locations with animals, contact your State Animal Health Official for guidance on how many PINs may be needed.

Yes, there are Secure Food Supply plans for swine, dairy and beef cattle. The Secure Pork, Milk, Beef, and Sheep and Wool Supply plans were developed together, so recommendations are similar with species-specific differences where needed. Secure Goat Supply was largely based on Secure Sheep and Wool Supply and uses many of the resources directly from SSWS. More information is available on the Secure Milk Supply website and Secure Pork Supply website and Secure Beef Supply website and Secure Goat Supply website.

Regulatory Officials are local, state, tribal, and federal officials who have the authority and responsibility to respond to foreign animal disease outbreaks.

• FMD affects cloven-hooved animals like cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.
• FMD is not public health or food safety concern
• Meat and milk are safe to eat and drink.
• More information is available on the Disease Information page and on the Foot and Mouth Disease Info website.
  

• Watch the 8-minute FMD Vaccination video for that answer and much more information.
  • Effective FMD vaccines do exist, but they are strain specific (most strains require their own vaccine and do not cross-protect against infection from other strains, also known as subtypes).
  • There are many different strains of FMD circulating in the world and it is hard to predict with certainty which will enter into the United States.
• Vaccinating for FMD has international trade repercussions, which would limit the ability of the United States to export.
  

• FMD is not public health or food safety concern.
• Meat and milk processed from FMD-infected animals is safe to eat/drink.
• FMD virus is not the same virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease in humans.
• More information is available on the Disease Information page and on the Foot and Mouth Disease Info website.