True/False: Depopulation is always the best approach to an outbreak of FMD.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends on the situation
• D. Uncertain

Answer: (B)

Depopulation is not always the best option for FMD control; the right approach depends on the outbreak context. While culling infected and at-risk animals can stop transmission quickly, it also has major downsides—economic losses for producers, animal welfare concerns, and trade implications. Other strategies, such as vaccination (including ring or targeted vaccination with appropriate surveillance and DIVA testing), strict movement controls, enhanced biosecurity, and zoning, can suppress spread and preserve animals and livelihoods in many scenarios. In some outbreaks, rapid vaccination paired with containment measures may control the disease just as effectively as depopulation or even more so, depending on factors like outbreak speed, vaccine availability and matching, species involved, and logistics. So saying depopulation is always the best approach isn’t correct.