A local newspaper in BC here reports that 'hoof and mouth' disease may
endanger local wildlife. A rancher has reported cancelling a visit to
England because of the danger of transporting the virus which can be
transported in clothing, carried by winds for up to 60 kilometers, and live
in the lungs of humans for up to 24 hours. The last outbreak of hoof and
mouth disease occurred in 1952 in Canada. A large number of animals were
killed as a means of preventing the spread of the disease. A local resort
and backcountry lodge restricts visitors from England from staying in a
local provincial park. The British visitors are required to stay for three
days in Canada prior to a visit at this lodge. However the Canadian
Cattlemans' Assoc. (sic) indicates that the persons should be prevented from
visiting cattle or entering ranches or coming near herds for sixty days.
The consensus appears to be that big horn sheep, mountain goats, moose, deer
and caribou will be wiped out. In the case of the Mountain Caribou, this
species is especially vulnerable because the species numbers are in the
thousands, perhaps as low as 3000.
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