Foot-and-mouth disease stalks Egypt

A new strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Egypt could aggravate discontent among the rural poor and prolong the country's political turmoil.

As Egypt struggles to make vaccine, agriculture experts fear a vicious circle has begun: political disarray helps spread animal disease, which deepens poverty and discontent - and breeds more political disarray. Meanwhile neighbouring countries fear Egypt's virus could soon reach them.