Studies of the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in West Bengal, India, between 1985 and 2002.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the major disease constraint on international trade in livestock and their products. In the state of West Bengal, India, 1,082 FMD outbreaks were reported in the 18 years from 1985 to 2002. Of the prevalent four serotypes, O type FMD virus accounted for the most outbreaks (67%), followed by Asia-1 virus type (15%) and A virus type (14%). Outbreaks of the type C FMD virus were least prevalent (4%), and no cases have been recorded since 1996. The study shows clearly that incidences were highest during the winter months and in the alluvial agro-climatic zones. The distribution and density of the FMD-susceptible population in different districts of the state also played major role in disease incidences. Due to the unrestricted movements of animals among different cattle markets, the disease was transmitted either by direct contact or by aerosols from infected to healthy animals. Cattle suffered most from the disease, accounting for about 95% of the cases. The monitoring of the disease documented in this study provides information about the endemicity of the disease that can help to formulate an effective strategy for an FMD control programme.