Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD)

In 2001/2 Cumbria was at the epicentre of the foot and mouth disaster experiencing 44% of all outbreaks. The effect of FMD was devastating for rural Cumbria. Since then, rural developments have included the establishment of the Rural Action Zone and Rural Regeneration Company.

The Health and Social Consequences of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Epidemic in North Cumbria is a study undertaken by the Institute for Health Research at Lancaster University and supported by Cumbria County Council. The study concludes that the epidemic was a disaster for large numbers of rural people, and should be counted amongst the major events in UK history. The disaster was a human tragedy, not just an animal one, and the scale of human distress was far greater than first appreciated. The conclusions presented are based on 3,200 weekly diaries written over 18 months by a diverse panel of 54 rural residents who experienced the crisis in different ways.

The full study report along with source material and data is now available for download from the website, below. The site also includes a 'Tell your story' section, allowing visitors to post their own accounts and comments.