CHANTILLY, Va. (AP) - Anthony Davidowitz, a British university student, knows firsthand the havoc foot-and-mouth disease can wreak on a country's farmers. His parents live in England within four miles of an outbreak of the livestock disease.

So Davidowitz didn't mind waiting several minutes as federal inspectors disinfected two pairs of his shoes after he arrived Wednesday on a flight from London.

``It's absolutely fine. I know farmers who are seriously suffering,'' he said.

The Agriculture Department has increased its scrutiny of travelers arriving from Britain and other European points to keep out foot-and-mouth disease, which was eradicated from the United States in 1929.

In addition to disinfecting the shoes of passengers who have been on European farms, the department also is devoting more of its inspectors and food-sniffing dogs to checking luggage from incoming European flights for contraband meat products.

Foot-and-mouth disease, which spread this week from Britain to France, is harmless to humans but could be devastating to the huge U.S. livestock industry. Unchecked, an epidemic would cause billions of dollars in damage, federal officials say.

And people can easily transport the virus on shoes.

In addition to reinforcing inspections at airports, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman told a congressional committee Wednesday, ``We are increasing our public awareness about this: It's a risk to livestock and not a risk to human health.''

A U.S. ban on meat and livestock imports was expanded from Britain to the European Union after a case was confirmed in France on Tuesday, and the Agriculture Department heightened its alerts at international airports and seaports.

Any travelers who say on their U.S. Customs declarations that they have recently been on a farm - as Davidowitz did Wednesday - are pulled aside for special questioning. If their shoes or boots are dirty, inspectors take the footwear and disinfect it in a mild solution of bleach and water.

USDA is adding 100 inspectors to its nationwide force of 1,800 to focus on flights arriving from Britain and Europe.

The fight against foot-and-mouth disease depends largely on the honesty of travelers to admit when completing customs forms that they've been on a farm or are carrying meat or other food that could harbor the disease. The department's trained dog teams, known as Beagle Brigades, are supposed to root out scofflaws, but they get to only a portion of any flight's baggage.

At Dulles, travelers from Britain have been noticeably more forthright recently, probably due to the publicity about the disease at home, inspectors said.

Quincy, an Agriculture Department beagle that met Virgin Atlantic Flight 21 from London on Wednesday, sniffed out a couple of apples and a package of jerky from among the 248 passengers.

``They're very wise to take precautions,'' said Pauline Frankel, a Virgin Atlantic passenger sent to the special inspection area after she declared a bottle of homemade chutney. She was allowed to keep it.

Foot-and-mouth is found on every continent except North America, Australia and Antarctica. It's in every South American country except Chile and Uruguay. Argentina suspended its beef exports Tuesday after confirming a new case.

The virus spreads so quickly, through the air or on motor vehicles or people, that entire herds and flocks must be incinerated to contain an outbreak. The disease can kill young animals and limits the growth of older ones.

The virus causes blister-like sores in the hooves and mouths of animals, hence the name.

The Agriculture Department has 280 veterinarians who can reach any farm or ranch in the country eight to 10 hours after a possible case is reported. If a case were to be confirmed, the farm would come under quarantine immediately and the livestock destroyed, department officials said.

Should foot-and-mouth reach the United States, ``What you have seen in the UK is the same thing you will see happening here,'' said Alfonso Torres, deputy administrator of veterinary services for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

U.S. import restrictions on the European Union cover fresh and frozen meat as well as unpasteurized milk products.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warned Wednesday that no country is safe from the disease because of increased international trade and tourism.

``Our society is based on freedom of movement and it is extremely difficult to control all and every risky passenger or immigrant or traveler or truck,'' said Yves Chaneau, head of the U.N. agency.

On the Net: USDA foot-and-mouth page: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/fmd/index.html

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