Product Description

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is currently regarded as one of the world's worst animal plagues. But how did this label become attached to a curable disease that poses little threat to human health? And why, in the epidemic of 2001, did the government's control strategy still rely upon Victorian trade restrictions and mass slaughter? This groundbreaking and well-researched book shows that for over a century, FMD has brought fear, tragedy and sorrow - damaging businesses and shaping international relations. Yet these effects were neither inevitable nor caused by FMD itself but rather were the product of legislation used to control it. In this sense, FMD is a 'manufactured' plague not a natural one. The book turns the spotlight on this process of manufacture, revealing a rich history beset by controversy, in which party politics, class relations, veterinary ambitions, agricultural practices, the priorities of farming and the meat trade, fears for national security and scientific progress all made FMD what it is today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #813016 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 216 pages

John Vidal, The Guardian, August 8, 2007
One of the best books on foot and mouth disease.

About the Author
Abigail Woods, formerly a practising veterinary surgeon, is Wellcome Research Fellow based at the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Manchester University. Woods was a frequent expert media commentator during the 2001 FMD outbreak

Customer Reviews

Brilliant
A superb exposure of the facts behind the foot and mouth plague in Britain. 2001 wasn't the first or the last time that this disease was dealt with with an eye to political expediency rather than to the common good. Just like the Butler report the Anderson Inquiry was a cover up of the highest order. Hopefully we will not quickly forget about the scandalous behaviour of those in power during 2001 and the next time this problem occurs it will be dealt with properly rather than complacency followed by panic.

This is brilliant scholarship into areas that have been hidden
Abigail Woods is a Vet who has studied the history of foot and mouth disease and has concluded (with many others) that current policies of slaughtering healthy animals are founded on a Victorian conception of veterinary health. Her profession is deeply divided and there are many who have profited from the FMD regime in the UK. Hence, she is being subjected to attacks. My own position pro-vaccination is known. So I love this book. It dovetails exactly with my own researches into the perfidy of the UK - EU animal health regime, and the hypocrisy and naked commercial interests at stake.

Wasted opportunity
I was very disappointed by this book, largely because of the shallow, misinformed and biased coverage of the 2001 outbreak, which is covered in a mere 10 pages!! The author completely fails to assess the costs and benefits of alternative national policies with respect to FMD but feels perfectly happy to lambaste GB policy that was largely in accordance with international obligations and agreements. 10 pages! (see the contents table above in 'Search Inside' if you do not believe me.)

I have not given a rating of 1 star because I did find the coverage of the history of the disease, in terms of public perception, politics and research, interesting, but again this does not appear to be objective.

In summary, consider buying if the history of FMD over the previous 150 years is of interest. Otherwise, if you primarily wish to learn more about the 2001 outbreak then download the three separate reports from the Royal Society, Policy Commission and Iain Anderson's `Lessons Learned' enquiry from the web.