The Truth of Foot and Mouth

Foot and Mouth Disease erupted an inferno of abuse, confusion, blame and mis-trust - all at the same time - across Britain in February of 2001.

There have been wide-ranging implications for the whole of society, and indeed the world, since its inception. Tourism has suffered, farming has plundered and the poor in society, once again, will experience the full blow of the disease's consequences. This isn't the first time that Britain has caused international sensation in agriculture. The 'E-coli' and 'mad cow disease' outbreaks of recent years have contributed to the descent of the British farming profile.

The disturbing part of it all is not how many animals have been killed, though that is equally unbelievable, but the extent to which farmers have been left ruined. Farmers all over England and the borders of Scotland have been left penniless, surviving on gift vouchers - which come with government endorsed shame - from local charities for basic survival. For these individuals, this is hard water to swallow because, as we all know, British farmers are renowned for their sense of pride and they don't accept pity lightly. Worryingly, some analysts have countered that it may be years before farmers will break even again.

The less well off in society can't be overlooked either. Prices of meat will surely rise in line with the shortage, resulting in poorer families having limited means to buy meat. The end result being everyone left to count their demise: there are no winners. It isn't the farmers' fault that they have to put prices up; they must survive too. Equally, the poor cannot be blamed for their inadequate diet because they don't have the vehicle to alter it.

Then there is the government and the tourist industry that has, and will, continue to suffer. Country walks and landmark areas have had to be closed for business due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak. What has resulted is a decline in the number of foreign and domestic visitors to busy tourist areas such as the Lake District. Recently, as the number of new cases of the disease have diminished, the British government have been having a hard time encouraging visitors back to these areas. Henry McLeish, the First Minister for Scotland, found it difficult in his quest to rejuvenate tourist traffic to Scotland during his visit to New York in April. The same has been the case for many politicians across the worst stricken areas of England.

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