News from August 2016

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute, led by Gareth Shimmon, have found a new way of diagnosing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) which is more cost effective and relies less on the use of small animals.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that infects cloven-hoofed (two-toed) mammals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and various wildlife species. The disease occurs in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and parts of South America and causes huge economic losses annually.