(I learned more about the danger...when reading this! In my day, I believe it was called 'hoof and mouth disease' which has a more familiar ring. And back then, I thought it was a joke. BJ) ...THINK AGAIN ON BRITISH TRAVEL British tourism has launched a campaign to urge Americans to visit Great Britain, claiming that there is nothing to fear with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Because humans are immune to FMD, they are claiming it is safe to visit. While this is generally true, what they are not telling us is that Americans can easily bring the virus back to the United States. If you are thinking about a trip to Great Britain in the near future, perhaps to spend Easter, or do some genealogy research, maybe even visit a cemetery or two, think again! FMD has reached epidemic proportions throughout England. It is an extremely communicable disease affecting hoofed animals such as cattle, horses, deer, pigs, sheep and goats. Even though it does not tend to affect humans, humans are still excellent carriers of the virus. But humans are not entirely safe, either. Farmers have reported suffering from mouth blisters and high fevers after handling infected animals. If you do visit an FMD-infected area: Avoid farms, sale barns, stockyards, animal laboratories, packing houses, zoos, fairs or other animal facilities for five days prior to travel. Before travel to the United States, launder or dry clean all clothing and outerwear. Avoid contact with livestock or wildlife for five days after arrival in the United States. If your goal was to get out to England in time for Easter, you may want to give it another thought. While it is safe for humans to visit there, the real concern is bringing the virus back home. If your plan is to go out into the countryside, it's best to forget about it until after outbreak has subsided. If your plan is to remain in the metropolitan areas (provided that you stay away from zoos and parks), there is little to worry about.