USDA Establishes Toll-Free Foot-and-Mouth Disease Call Line

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has established a toll-free telephone center to respond to questions from the public, industry and media regarding USDA's response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe. The toll-free number is 1-800-601-9327.

The phone center is staffed by veterinarians and import/export experts from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service who can explain the restrictions and regulations impacting people and products arriving at U.S. ports of entry from foot-and-mouth disease affected countries.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. The United States has been free of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929.

SOURCE: USDA, Office of Communications