by Staff Writers Bangkok (UPI) Jun 27, 2012 A global strategy to
combat foot-and-mouth disease must be based on collective action
and solid commitments from all countries, the U.N. food agency
says. Foot-and-mouth disease, which affects all cloven-hoofed
animals including sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo and pigs, causes
serious production losses and can be fatal, particularly to
younger animals. "Recent FMD outbreaks around the globe
demonstrate that animal diseases have no boundaries, can have a
devastating impact and require a global response," Hiroyuki
Konuma, Food and Agriculture Organization regional
representative for Asia and the Pacific, said. He was addressing
the opening session of a foot-and-mouth disease conference in
Bangkok Wednesday. While the disease does not directly affect
humans, the FAO cited the negative impact it has on poor farmers
whose livelihoods often depend on just a few animals, the loss
of which can lead to hunger and economic ruin. The agency
estimates a $5 billion global annual c