The US has not had an outbreak of foot and mouth disease since 1929, while it is spreading rapidly around much of the world. Infected animals are destroyed by the thousands because the virus is so virulent. It can last for weeks in dirt and straw, and it can blow onto the clothing of people walking by. It can be inhaled by people and spread by them without their knowing it for several days because it does not infect humans.

The State Department recommend not being around any cloven footed animals (horses, camels, and rhinosceri are fine according to Texas A&M) for five days before returning to the US and not being around similar animals in this country for five days after returning. They also recommend that all clothes you wear on a farm be washed or dry cleaned and that shoes, boots, bags, etc be wiped down with a solution of bleach in water.

The full text can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/...alth_1182.html

The economic costs to farmers of foot and mouth disease is horrifying (up to $18 billion in the last UK outbreak), the sufferings of 7 million destroyed animals was worse. No inconvenience to the traveler can outweigh these.

Sorry to preach, but Taiwan had been free of the disease for since 1930 and had to destroy half the pigs in the country.

Sorry, down from my soapbox.

you make my point for me, Ackislander.

you don't keep foot and mouth out just by asking if people have visited a farm.