The present foot and mouth disease crisis in Great Britain, France and The Netherlands has caused reverberations in every nation of the world with a sizable cattle, sheep, goat and swine population. Many llama and alpaca owners in crisis countries have justifiable concern as to where their animals fit into governmental policies regarding movement of animals, quarantine, testing, slaughter, vaccination and possible indemnity. Email messages, FAXes and telephone calls have kept the internet and satellites hot, asking for answers to genuine questions, but for which there may not be a "last word" at the present time. A number of documents are circulating among llama and alpaca owners in the United States and Canada. Most present good information intended to inform, but not incite panic. I have seen one Email that actually alluded to "the disease" being present in Vermont. Wrong. "The disease" was actually a sheep disease entirely unrelated to FMD. Such misinformation can do nothing but engender panic.

What are the facts?

1. FMD is a highly contagious virus disease within cattle and swine populations of Asia, Africa and some South American countries..
2. Llamas and alpacas have been experimentally infected with the virus and developed signs of the disease under those circumstance.
3. Researchers have concluded that llamas and alpacas are highly resistant to the infection.
4. Even with experimental inoculation, llamas and alpacas do not retain the virus for more than a few days, and do not become carriers
5. Any animal, including humans, may mechanically carry the virus to other locations and infect susceptible animals.
6. Present government policy in the United Kingdom, France, The Netherlands, Canada and the United States dictates that infected animals or susceptible animals exposed to infected animals be slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease.
7. The governing authority for protecting the livestock interest of the United States is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); given that authority by congress.
8. Discussions are being held by USDA at the highest levels and have included representatives from the United States Animal Health Association, FMD specialists, state authorities and livestock associations.
9. USDA has specialist teams of people in England helping English authorities to cope with the crisis there.
10. USDA has protocols in place and emergency response teams currently working throughout the country to prevent the introduction of FMD into the US and to deal with the challenges should the virus be introduced.
11. While vaccines against FMD are routinely used in countries where FMD is constantly present, vaccination in England, France, The Netherlands, Canada and the US is illegal because it interferes with testing and control programs.

Reality

1. The stakes are high, governmental agencies will act to protect the livestock industries of the US, according to their assessment of the situation at any point in time.
2. Political concerns may supercede science in crisis and panic.
3. When traveling abroad, adhere to Custom's rules and regulations.
4. Be thankful that your animals are safe and sound.
5. Have a positive attitude and enjoy those special animals.