What’s the big deal?
FMD is one of the most difficult animal infections to control. Because the disease occurs in many parts of the world, there is always a chance of its accidental introduction into the U.S. That chance has been heightened recently by a major outbreak in the United Kingdom that has already spread to continental Europe. The European Union is a major U.S. trading partner. If an outbreak occurred in U.S., this disease could spread rapidly to all sections of the country by routine livestock movements unless it was detected early and eradicated immediately. Livestock producers are key to early detection and eradication. The Illinois livestock industry is a major economic contributor to the state s economy. Illinois nearly 2 million head of cattle, 4 million hogs, 120,000 dairy cows, and 74,000 sheep and goats consume hundreds of millions of dollars worth of animal feed each year.
Imagine having a harbour but not being allowed to sail in it. Or a park that no one’s allowed to have a picnic in. How about a bridge, joining two halves of our biggest city, that you’re not allowed across unless you’re driving a car or riding a bus?It just doesn’t make sense. The folks who designed the Auckland Harbour Bridge in the first place thought so too – so they made sure the bridge would include a cycleway, a walkway – even a railway! But when costs started rising, all three got the chop.You don’t often get a second chance to get it right, but that’s exactly what Auckland’s got now: a second chance to give everyone access to their bridge, whether it’s by car, on a bike, or on foot.
