Animal disease outbreak
Animal disease outbreak – Learner challenge
Information for teachers
Introduction
This learner challenge is provided by Education Scotland to support the teaching of emergency and resilience education. It challenges learners to respond to an emergency
situation involving an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, using the resources listed as a starting point for their own research.
The accompanying ‘Information for learners’ sheet provides a challenge brief, sets out the tasks, gives examples of useful resources and offers questions for learners to reflect
upon.
Experiences and Outcomes

I am learning to assess and manage risk, to protect myself and others, and to
reduce the potential for harm when possible. HWB 1-16a - 4-16a

I know and can demonstrate how to keep myself and others safe and how to
respond in a range of emergency situations. HWB 1-17a - 4-17a

I can access, retrieve and use information from electronic sources to support,
enrich or extend learning in different contexts. TCH 1-03b

I can use ICT effectively in different learning contexts across the curriculum to
access, select and present relevant information in a range of tasks. TCH 4-03b
Taking it further
Learners could undertake further research into the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak and
evaluate the success or otherwise of the response to the emergency. They should also
consider the lessons to be learned, the long-term impacts on the farming and rural
communities, and the wider implications for society.
This would require the application of research skills and an examination of the actual
course of events involving science, history, geography, modern studies and ICT.
Having examined the actual course of events and the long-term impacts it is hoped that
the learners can appreciate the importance of being ready for emergencies.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/readyforemergencies
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Animal disease outbreak – Learner challenge
Animal disease outbreak
Information for learners
Resources
BBC News: Foot and mouth disease http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2001/foot_and_mouth/1182631.stm
Challenge brief
Your group has been given the task of organising the initial government response
to an outbreak of foot and mouth.
You not only need to decide what needs to be done to contain the outbreak but
you also need to keep the public informed.
The public is naturally demanding to know where this outbreak started and
whether it poses a threat. The farming community wants to know about the likely
impact on their livelihoods.
DEFRA: Foot and mouth disease: Advice to the public http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/fmd/public/index.htm
The Scottish Government: Animal diseases
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/fmd/public/index.htm
NHS: Can people catch foot and mouth disease? http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2348.aspx?categoryid=200&subcategoryid=2004
Department of Health: What does Foot and Mouth disease mean to me? http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGu
idance/DH_4009084
Tasks
Reflective questions
View the clips on the BBC website looking at the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth
(see ‘Resources’) to help you decide on your approach to this new outbreak.
Research what current advice is provided by the government organisations listed in
‘Resources’ and identify what information to present to the public.
Using the ideas you have taken from the clips and the information gained from your
research, create a script for a fictional press conference where you present your
approach to the outbreak and answer any questions.

What do you not want the public to do?

Where should the focus of your efforts be?

Who is going to be able to help you to do what needs to be done?

How quickly can the farming community respond to the situation?

Should the public be kept informed of everything that is happening?

What do you want the farming community to be doing to help contain the outbreak?

In what ways might this impact on wider society?
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/readyforemergencies
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