1. 19 February 2001:
Outbreak begins at Little Warley in Essex

2. 23 February 2001:
After more cases erupt in Essex the disease makes its first major leap and arrives at the other side of the country in Heddon-on-the-Wall in Tyne and Wear

3. 24 February 2001:
A day later the disease moves back south to Highampton in Devon

4. 27 February 2001:
As the number of cases rises across England foot-and-mouth makes its first appearance in Wales in Gaerwen, Gwynedd

5. 1 March 2001: In under two weeks the epidemic reaches Cumbria and Scotland

6. 3 March 2001:
Cornwall is also hit, as foot-and-mouth covers the length and breadth of Britain

Total cases

The disease, and the culling that went with it had a devastating effect on millions of animals. The chart below shows fast the disease took hold.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the final number of confirmed cases reached over 2,000.

The graph below shows the daily case figures since outbreaks began in February until they tailed off in September.

One of the most important comparisons to be made is between this outbreak and that of 1967. The first ten weeks showed similarities in the rise and fall of the number of cases: