The effort to prevent the spread of FMD is now global. In areas where infected animals have been discovered, farmers have no choice but to 'cull' entire herds of animals, whether or not the animals are known to be infected. This is because infected animals start producing new virus particles before showing any symptoms. Throughout the United Kingdom, skies are dark with smoke from mountains of burning carcasses. The problem is so great that the British Army has been called in to help with the cull.
Considerable efforts are also underway to discourage travel in affected areas.
Horse races, livestock fairs, local festivals and parades have all been banned in England and Ireland, for example. Ironically, farmers in affected areas cannot even go the polls to express their reaction, since they are forbidden to travel locally. Tourism is being severely affected by the FMD epidemic, since many of the more popular beauty spots are now off limits. Travelers leaving affected countries are subject to search at other ports of entry and are required to undergo disinfection procedures. Norwegian authorities even went so far as to cancel its annual reindeer races.