Smart Travel: Hoof and mouth outbreak hurt U.K. tourism

The current outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in the United Kingdom is costing the country more than the thousands of animals slaughtered. This animal affliction is also creating a serious problem for the tourism industry in England, Ireland and Wales.

In an effort to stop the spread of this disease, the government has declared 40 million rural acres (three quarters of Great Britain) off limits to travelers.

U.S. tour operators, particularly those that specialize in walking and hiking tours, have been forced to decide whether to cancel scheduled tours for the spring and summer season or to try to redesign them to avoid the closed areas of these countries.

Maupintour has already canceled the May 12 and June 9 departures of its Walking England's Cotswolds MaupinAdventure tour. Other tour operators are holding off on cancellations, awaiting the lifting of restrictions.

It is important that travelers know that hoof and mouth disease is not contagious to humans. The precautions being taken in the United Kingdom are entirely to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease from one farm and one herd to another. When the restrictions will be lifted depends on the determination by agriculture specialists that the epidemic has been contained.

Until the hoof and mouth outbreak is contained, almost all of the National Trust and the British Heritage sites will be closed to tourists. Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall and most of the British footpath systems are also closed at this time.

In Ireland, County Cork's Blarney Castle is among the many attractions temporarily closed by the epidemic.

Although the hoof and mouth outbreak has the potential to affect golf vacations, these have been unaffected at this time and are running on schedule. There has been no disruption of rail schedules, either, and no restrictions have been ordered on the rail system.

Travelers with scheduled trips this spring and early summer may check the Web sites of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, English Heritage, The National Trust and the Irish Tourist Board.

These sites will provide up-to-the-minute information on closings of areas and attractions.

American travelers returning home who have visited a farm or other high-risk areas should be sure to report this to the agricultural offices at customs when returning. These agents will disinfect your shoes and any clothes you might have worn in the contagious areas. Failure to report your visit to such areas could bring this disease into our country, which would be disastrous to our farm economy. Don't lie about it!

In all probability the outbreak will be contained by mid- or late May.

(Linda and Dr. Don Overend are principals in The Travel Group, a full-service travel agency formed by the merger of Ozark World Travel, Consulting Travel and Thomas Travel.)