FMD has a huge negative impact on animal production with very serious socio-economic damage, reaching up to billions of dollars rather than millions. FMD is a major restrictive factor of the global trade in animals and animal products.
Outbreaks in FMD free countries without vaccination and losses:
- 2001 The United Kingdom, recorded estimated losses at 30 billion U.S. dollars.
- 1997 Taiwan Province of China, estimated losses 15 billion US dollars.
- 1993 Italy, economic damage amounting to 130 million US dollars.
- Annual estimated expenditure due to FMD disease is 5 Billion US dollars.