Diseases of Interest The following diseases have currently been
defined by the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) for study at the National Bio
and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF): - Foot and Mouth Disease
(FMD). Viral disease of domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals;
acute disease characterized by fever, lameness, and vesicular
lesions on the feet, tongue, mouth and teats; FMD is considered
to be one of the most contagious, infectious diseases known;
cost estimates of an introduction of FMD in the U.S. are more
than $37 billion. - Classical Swine Fever (CSF). Wild and
domestic swine are the only known natural reservoir; widespread
throughout the world and has the potential to cause devastating
epidemics, particularly in countries free of the disease; any
outbreak of CSF would have serious consequences for domestic and
international trade of swine and swine products; improved
countermeasures are needed. - African Swine Fever (ASF).
Infected animals have high mortality