Explanation:

Agriculture ministry has conceived a ‘FMD Mukta Bharat‘ (FMD Free India) programme to cover all the states which have not yet been covered under the six monthly vaccination scheme. This programme is launched to end the most devastating contagious viral animal disease FMD(Foot and Mouth Disease).

 Government had introduced a location-specific programme called ‘Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP)’ in its 10th Plan Period and so far has been implemented in 13 states and six union territories including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Rajasthan, Bihar, Puducherry, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep.
 

FMD-CP has seen a significant drop in the disease occurrences. There were 879 FMD outbreaks reported in 2012 throughout the country, the number reduced to 109 in 2015.

 As per the estimates by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), direct loss due to milk and meat is to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore per annum due to FMD. It could be much more if the indirect losses due to reduced work capacity, abortions, subsequent infertility and sterility (that account for the reduced milk production subsequently) were taken into account.
Foot and mouth disease (FMD)

 Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed (two-toed) animals (e.g., cattle, pigs, sheep). FMD causes painful sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and teats of animals.
Foot and mouth disease is a high consequence livestock disease due to its potential for rapid spread, severe trade restrictions and the subsequent economic impacts that would result.

The disease occurs in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America, but has been eradicated from North America, Australia, New Zealand, Greenland, Iceland, and most of Europe.
 

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has severe implications for animal farming, since it is highly infectious and can be spread by infected animals through aerosols, through contact with contaminated farming equipment, vehicles, clothing, or feed, and by domestic and wild predators.

The virus responsible for the disease is a picornavirus, the prototypic member of the genus Aphthovirus. Infection occurs when the virus particle is taken into a cell of the host. The cell is then forced to manufacture thousands of copies of the virus, and eventually bursts, releasing the new particles in the blood. The virus is genetically highly variable, which limits the effectiveness of vaccination.

Susceptible animals include cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, antelope, deer, and bison. Humans are very rarely infected.
Humans can be infected with foot-and mouth disease through contact with infected animals, but this is extremely rare. Some cases were caused by laboratory accidents.