Communication dimensions of the UK foot and mouth disease crisis, 2001

The foot and mouth disease outbreak which started in February 2001 in the UK was the most severe civil crisis that had been seen in the UK since the Second World War. The crisis has been the subject of numerous reports, but this paper examines the communication dimensions of the outbreak, in particular the work of the Communications Directorate of the lead Government department, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (now the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Within the context of the Crisis literature, this paper discusses: the main communication activities that were undertaken; key issues; lessons that have been learned and applied by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Finally it provides an analysis of some of the main communication issues, concluding with a checklist that should be borne in mind for future large- scale civil crises. Copyright (C) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.