This unique report is professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. The U.S. livestock industry represents a critical economic infrastructure, due to its size and influence on national and international agricultural systems. The high-concentration farming practices that allow the United States to be a world leader in agriculture also present a vulnerability to biological pathogens, particularly foot and mouth disease (FMD). The purpose of this thesis is to stimulate and broaden the discussion of the U.S. livestock industry's susceptibility to an FMD outbreak, regardless of how it is introduced. It reviews case studies of prominent outbreaks in the United Kingdom (2001) and Taiwan (1997). The themes that emerged from these case studies—responsibility and response—informed a discussion of ways to increase U.S. efficiency when responding to an FMD outbreak. The case studies illustrate that FMD outbreaks in thriving livestock industries can have devastating economic, social, and political consequences. The United States should address these and other international FMD outbreaks to improve the preparedness and resilience of the U.S. livestock industry to an outbreak of FMD.

CHAPTER I * INTRODUCTION * A. MAJOR RESEARCH QUESTION * B. IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH * C. IMPLICATIONS OF WORK * D. LITERATURE REVIEW * 1. Operation of American Agriculture * 2. Fragility of Livestock Industry * 3. Why the American Livestock Industry Is at Risk * 4. Entry into the United States * 5. Impact * 6. Farmer Protections * E. METHODOLOGY * F. THESIS OVERVIEW * CHAPTER II * CASE STUDIES OF FMD IN THE U.K. AND TAIWAN * A. UNITED KINGDOM OUTBREAK * 1. Origin and Propagation * 2. Response * a. Personnel * b. Vaccinations * 3. Implications of Disposal and Clean-up * 4. Economic Impact * B. TAIWAN OUTBREAK * 1. Origin and Propagation * 2. Response * a. Personnel. * b. Vaccines * 3. Implication of Disposal and Clean-up * 4. Economic Impact * C. LESSONS LEARNED * 1. United Kingdom * 2. Taiwan * CHAPTER III * MEASURES THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TAKE TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECTS OF AN FMD OUTBREAK * A. RESPONSIBILITY * 1. Federal Responsibilities * 2. State and Local Responsibilities * B. RESPONSE * 1. Communications * 2. Early Assistance * 3. Adopting a Response Strategy * 4. Zoning of FMD * 5. Economic Impact * CHAPTER IV * CONCLUSION * A. LIVESTOCK AND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE * B. FUTURE WORK: IMPLICATIONS OF TERROR THREAT * LIST OF REFERENCES