"The foot-and-mouth-disease virus epidemic in the UK in 2001 was disastrous and cost the economy billions of pounds in control measures and compensation, " explained Dr Bryan Charleston, Head of Livestock Viral Diseases Programme at the Pirbright Institute.

BBC: Synchrotron yields 'safer' vaccine

The United States reported its last outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 1929, while Canada and swathes of Central America have been free of the virus since the early 1950s.

CNN: Foot-and-mouth virus: A global dilemma