Which statement about the relative contagiousness of VSV and FMD is true?

Which statement about the relative contagiousness of VSV and FMD is true?

• A. VSV is more contagious than FMD
• B. VSV and FMD have the same contagiousness
• C. It is unknown whether VSV is more or less contagious than FMD
• D. FMD is more contagious than VSV

Answer: (D)

Understanding contagiousness means looking at how easily an infection spreads between animals. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is known for extreme contagiousness in cloven-hoofed species because the virus can spread through many efficient routes—direct contact with lesions or contaminated materials, aerosols that travel over distances, and movement of infected animals or equipment. This combination allows rapid, large-scale spread and outbreaks that can move quickly across herds and borders. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) also causes vesicular disease and can infect multiple species, but its transmission is generally less efficient. It relies more on direct contact and is less prone to sustained airborne spread, so outbreaks tend to be smaller and less rapid than those of FMD. So, when comparing the two, FMD is more contagious than VSV, which is why that option is the best choice.

Understanding contagiousness means looking at how easily an infection spreads between animals. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is known for extreme contagiousness in cloven-hoofed species because the virus can spread through many efficient routes—direct contact with lesions or contaminated materials, aerosols that travel over distances, and movement of infected animals or equipment. This combination allows rapid, large-scale spread and outbreaks that can move quickly across herds and borders.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) also causes vesicular disease and can infect multiple species, but its transmission is generally less efficient. It relies more on direct contact and is less prone to sustained airborne spread, so outbreaks tend to be smaller and less rapid than those of FMD.

So, when comparing the two, FMD is more contagious than VSV, which is why that option is the best choice.