Foot & Mouth outbreaks causing concern

The World Organization for Animal Health database is reporting an increase of Foot and Mouth disease in some parts of the world and politicians in Japan have made it's eradication a high priority. In fact organizers cancelled the 2010 sold out Ironman Japan scheduled for June 13 at Goto Nagasaki due to the threat of FMD. Goto is a predominantly agricultural area and organisers say they cannot risk the devastation that an outbreak would cause to the local economy. Some countries have also banned imports of Japanese meat products with the outbreak being called the worst in Japan's history.
The WAHID website database states the total number of animals destroyed to date in Japan at 149,322 (21,893 cattle) with the investigation continuing. China and Korea also have continuing events concerning FMD, along with others where it is classified as an endemic disease.
Statistics by country can be found HERE.