A Survey of Visitors and Vehicles on Livestock Farms in Japan and Evaluation of the Potential Risk of Spreading Foot-and-mouth Disease before the Movement Restriction

摘要

Movement between farms can contribute to the spread of contagious animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). However, few studies have reported the movement patters of visitors and vehicles on livestock farms in Japan. In this study, we investigated the movement of visitors and vehicles in major livestock farming areas in Japan and analyzed the characteristics of these movement patterns. The results of the survey can aid in the quantitative evaluation of the potential risk of spreading FMD before the movement restriction.