At American airports, longstanding precautions are being tightened. On Thursday, the Department of Agriculture declared a "heightened alert" over foot-and-mouth disease and said it had added 100 agents to its normal contingent of 1,800 who monitor international arrivals. Accompanied by baggage-sniffing dogs looking for prohibited foods, inspectors are asking passengers from Britain and other countries where the disease is active whether they visited a farm or rural area. Those suspected of carrying the virus can be required to have shoes, clothing and possessions disinfected.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/11/we...earchpv=site01


Britain defended its efforts to contain a three-week-old foot-and-mouth outbreak on Monday against furious criticism from Ireland, but said it faced a ``long haul'' battling the highly contagious livestock disease.

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown insisted a nationwide ban on livestock movements had kept the virus under control, despite a relentless rise in the tally of affected farms and abattoirs.

The total number of sites where the disease has been confirmed rose by 17 to 181 on Monday and dozens of other locations were still being investigated for possible outbreaks.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world...l-food-di.html

Rural footpaths and many countryside attractions have been closed in an attempt to stem the disease, and many sporting events have been canceled. Monday's casualties included the Devizes-to-Westminster International Canoe Race from western England to London.

The English Tourism Council says business is 75 percent below its usual levels for this time of year, with operators -- including country hotels, pubs and parks -- facing losses of more than $150 million a week.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/worl...and-Mouth.html

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 03-12-2001).]