Twenty-five years ago: the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK

22 February 2001: How the Guardian first covered the national crisis that unfolded as a result of the virus that spreads like wildfireAn outbreak of the highly infectious animal transmitted foot-and-mouth disease in the UK was one of the worst in the world. Roughly 6 million cattle, sheep, and pigs were culled, and mass funeral pyres became a striking image of the British countryside. Rural communities were shut off, tourism devastated, and movement across the countryside severely restricted. The crisis was so serious that the 2001 UK general election had to be postponed. Continue reading...