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The British government has asked the Royal Society to launch an inquiry into
the control of infectious diseases in livestock. Vets and scientists, along with
representatives of farmers and consumer groups, will look into how diseases are
transmitted between farm animals and come up with possible prevention
strategies. The decision follows criticism of the government’s handling of the
devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain, which has led to the
slaughter of more than 3.7 million animals.