In article ,
Martin Brown wrote:

Even if stopping imports had been done in time, it wouldn't have
worked. The distribution is strongly indicative of it being wind-
borne for hundreds of kilometres. Actually, a wind-borne fungus
parasite that is carried only tens of kilometres is implausible,
though the amount carried will drop off rapidly with distance.

Our prevailing wind mostly protects us from transfer of spores from
Denmark and the like, but once Spain has it we are in trouble. However,
since it is already here windborn transmission is secondary since like
with foot and mouth it will be road transport that moves them around!

Mostly is not good enough, and the incidence graphs indicate that
it did indeed arrive here on the easterlies.

I think the last sentence is wholly wrong. As far as I know, the
transfer of foot and mouth was almost entirely by wind or the transfer
of infected animals (read: plants!) And, from what I have heard, the
likelihood is that this is similar.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.