an outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in the uk has sparked off a scare across the world, prompting several governments to impose bans on British livestock and animal products in an effort to contain its spread.

The first 27 cases were reported on February 19, 2001, at the Cheale Meats, an abattoir in Essex and soon spread to 37 farms across the country. "The virus is spreading to five to six farms every day,' said Jim Scudamore, Britain's chief veterinary officer.

The latest crisis has come as a severe blow to the country's farming community, which is yet to recover from the effects of the mad cow disease. At present, a self-imposed ban on exports is costing the British meat industry us $12 million each week in addition to the loss of hundreds of cattle heads, which are being slaughtered to contain the spread of the disease. "We have confirmed at least 74 cases and around 67,000 animals have been slaughtered and exhumed till now,' said Nick Brown, the country's agriculture minister.

Veterinarians have little clue as to what caused the outbreak. They suspect the virus may have come from imported cattle. "Our ports and airports are woefully defenceless against illegal food imports. We even import from countries where foot-and-mouth is endemic,' says Brown. However, some officials feel that modern farming methods are responsible for the disease. "Pigs are fed swill that no vet would approve,' commented Mike Robertson, the editor of the London-based Sunday Times .

The disease infects hoofed animals like sheep, cows and pigs. Symptoms include blisters on the feet and mouth of the infected animals. Experts believe that vaccination is the only solution. They say it is a disease that knows no boundaries as it can spread through air or transmitted through urine, milk, semen and saliva. The virus can also be carried through the wind, on the soles of tourists' shoes or the wheels of cars.

Already, the spread has been quick and devastating. In Pakistan, veterinarians and livestock traders said that thousands of imported animals have shown symptoms of a disease similar to the foot-and-mouth. Three pigs found in Taiwan with signs of the disease have been killed. In Iran, where the virus is endemic, the disease was diagnosed in sheep in at least three centres near Tehran.

However, livestock tested in France, Denmark and Belgium has proved negative. German health officials are optimistic about the disease not affecting the country, but the