Planning to Travel to Britain ?

Planning to travel to Britain ?

Since the beginning of March an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (also
known as Hoof and Mouth Disease) has affected areas of Britain. Previous to
this "outbreak" there had been concerns throughout most of Western Europe
about Mad Cow Disease. I would like to look at these two issues to help
answer concerns and provide accurate information, so that potential visitors
may be better informed. In my opinion, sensationalism in the media has
over-rated these two legitimate concerns.

1. Foot and Mouth Disease poses little or no health risk to humans. The
disease is highly virulent and impacts on the economic viability of
livestock production. The widespread culling of cows, pigs and sheep is
being done to try and prevent spread to unaffected farms. "Foot and Mouth"
disease will either be everywhere by the summer (so you are unlikely to
spread it further ) or under control.

2. Mad Cow Disease poses a risk to humans from the consumption of
contaminated meat, the problem lies in quantifying the risk. It is still not
completely understood in the scientific community. Visitors are at very low
risk because measures have been in place to prevent contaminated meat
entering the food chain for a number of years. I live in a city but have not
heard of a single person who has contracted CJD, (the human form of the
disease) even at second or third hand, but cases have been reported in the
national and regional media

3. In rural areas of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales most footpaths,
some roads and some tourist attractions have been closed in an attempt to
limit the spread of "Foot and Mouth". Towns and cities are almost completely
unaffected and their tourist attractions are open. If you are planning to
travel in rural areas of Britain you are advised to keep to the main roads
(not because you are at risk but to avoid spreading "foot and mouth"),
expect your vehicle to be disinfected at intervals.

I travelled into the country a few days ago on business, (for the first time
in a month) and saw first hand the smoke rising from a number of cattle
pyres. The situation for farmers is bad but the effect on the many jobs
dependent on tourism is potentially worse, if visitors (like you) take
fright and stay away.

Take as much advice as you feel you need to avoid spreading "foot and mouth"
to unaffected areas and countries. In my opinion, if you are planning to
visit Britain this summer, you are at greater risk of being involved in a
traffic accident. A British respondent (tongue in cheek, I think) asked
recently about the "risks" of travel to the US because of recent sensational
reports in our media that President Bush is the cause of "environmental
pollution" in the US !