Emergency

Vaccination

as a Strategy to

Control

the Spread of FMD

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is

a highly contagious and

economically devastating

livestock disease.

Historically, the costs of

outbreaks – direct, secondary

and tertiary – are massive.

Outbreaks can lead to strict

trade restrictions on the world

market, harming the economy.

The most recent U.S.

outbreak in 1929 had a

devastating effect on

agriculture and the

economy. Thus, it is

imperative to be well

prepared.

Strategies to control an

outbreak may include:

• Emergency vaccination.

• Large-scale slaughter.

Economists at the FAZD

Center used simulation

analysis to evaluate the

use of emergency

vaccination – in addition

to slaughter – as

strategies for slowing the

spread of the FMD virus.

Simulations suggest

emergency vaccination will

slow outbreaks in

California when used in

rings of under 10 or 20

kilometers surrounding the

outbreak site.

The high costs of

emergency vaccination are

offset in these simulations.

Simulations also show

emergency vaccination is

effective in the Texas High

Plains in rings of less than

5 kilometers.

But the high

costs are not

offset in these

simulations.

FAZD Center economists

concluded:

• Emergency vaccination

reduces slaughter, but

generally is not cost effective.

• However, vaccination is a

viable option if the goal is to

reduce the risk of a

catastrophic outcome.

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