Should one assume from these latest posts about Foot & Mouth that travelling only in urban areas is the best option for the next 6 months to a year?

Six months??? Hopefully they should get this under control before then. Certainly right now I'd stick to the cities. You wouldn't want to be 'THE' person who was responsible for bringing this scourge back to your own country. <BR>

I wonder that there is no vaccine to avoid slaughtering healthy animals? I have not seen any mention anywhere, but this is not a new virus!!

Be prepared for the Government to announce an all-clear in April. They are set on a May 3 General Election date and the current outbreak risks postponing the election because canvassing could not take place in rural areas. This is yet another reason why there is a lot of pressure on Minister Nick Brown (from Tony Blair) to be able to announce that the virus is under control by the end of this month. this will allow a staged return to normality in Aprli and the Election in May. <BR> <BR>Joe

During the outbreak in 1967 (the last "big one" in the UK), they did try vaccination instead of slaughter. Slaughter was more effective at stopping the spread. <BR> <BR>And immunization was economically more disastrous. They couldn't be sold or transported anywhere. They still had to be fed and cared for. They reproduced poorly. Farmers that started over with a clean slate fared better than those whose herds underwent immunization. <BR>

My husband and I will be visiting Mar 23 through April 4. This is our first visit to the UK, this is our Christmas gift to our mothers who have never been out of the states. We were planning to visit family historical places, such as the farm our ancestors came from in Scotland and some cousins we've discovered in rural Coventry. Any chance we'll get to do thses things? <BR>What about traveling to Scotland? We have rented a car and planned to drive and stay at B & B's. . . ?

I am seeing a lot of coverage of the foot and month disease. What is the effect on us if we eat infected meat? Is there any effect? Has anyone read any coverage on this? <BR> <BR>I am concerned becasue I will be leaving for Belgium next week and I am unsure if we should steer clear (no pun intended) of dishes made of beef/mutton. <BR>I would really like to hear feedback!

The consensus is that no infected animal ever makes it to market. This is an economic disease that wipes out an entire herd, rendering it an economic zero. <BR> <BR>And even if you actually ate meat from an infected animal, there have been somewhere betwewn zero and a half dozen SUSPECTED cases of FMD contracted by a human in a century. This leads to the conclusion that no normal human can contract this infection. <BR> <BR>Maybe, maybe if an immune deficient person had direct broken skin contact with open ulcers of an infected animal, this might be the kind of set up which could lead to infection. <BR> <BR>But not consumption of meat. <BR> <BR>This is not to say that anyone (travelers or not) should take lightly the subject of food-borne infections - - which are essentially just as important a clinical problem as they were 50 years ago. See www.nytimes.com/2001/03/18/health/18FOOD.html from yesterday's NY Times about how littlhas been done to combat food-borne infections. <BR> <BR>

Is Stonehenge still closed to the public?

Lots of attractions are due to re-open on or after April 1st. <BR> <BR>See the English Heritage website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/ <BR>and National Trust website: <BR>www.nationaltrust.org.uk/news.htm. <BR> <BR>As for Stonehenge, the best way to see it in all its rather creepy glory is to go around dusk when it's closed and tourist free and look at it from the road. <BR>

Many attractions are due to re-open on or just after April 1st.see the English Heritage website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/ <BR>and National Trust website: <BR>www.nationaltrust.org.uk/news.htm. <BR>As for Stonehenge, the time to see it is at dusk when it is closed and tourist free. You can see it from the road and appreciate its creepy atmosphere.

Yes, it's currently still closed. <BR> <BR>However, there are plans to re-open a number of English Heritage, National Trust and other historical properties (e.g Blenheim Palace) in the next week or two in the run-up to Easter. Stonehenge isn't currently listed as one of them, - but that may change any time... <BR> <BR>Steve

Topping for ... xxx

English Heritage are hoping to be able to reopen Stonehenge by Easter, though nothing has been announced yet as they are still in discussions with local farmers. Meanwhile, numerous other sites are due to be reopened over the next month, including 160 National Trust properties.

Steve-- thanks for taking your time in keeping this forum posted on the subject. Please advise if any changes, one way or the other.