Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most serious transboundary animal diseases. It is a highly contagious viral disease, and may have rapid and unanticipated national and international spread. Although not a very lethal disease for adult animals, it can have crippling socio-economic consequences, through high production and trade losses. This manual provides information on the nature of FMD and the principles and strategic options for its prevention, control and elimination. Guidelines are provided for individual countries threatened by FMD to formulate their overall national policy on control and eradication of a possible incursion of the disease. This manual is one of the series prepared by the Livestock Unit of FAO's priority programme "Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES)".