Assessment of knowledge on foot and mouth disease in free zones where vaccination is not practiced in Brazil.

Summary: Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious virus that affects animals like cows and pigs. Brazil is now recognized as free from FMD without needing to use vaccines. Because of this, the country relies heavily on farmers to spot the disease and report it to officials. Researchers surveyed 1,499 cattle farms to see what farmers actually knew about the disease.

While almost everyone (98%) had heard of FMD, only about 1 in 4 knew the actual signs of the sickness. Also, only a third knew exactly which animals could get it. The study found that a farmer's education level, farm size, and location affected what they knew. To keep animals safe and the country FMD-free, officials need to create special teaching programs to help farmers learn how to spot the disease.