By Mary Morley
This summer, Shelly King will be spending two months in London with the BYU study abroad program.
Her mind is mostly occupied with finding a flight, deciding what she should pack and figuring out how she will pay for the trip.
But in the back of her mind, there is one more worry: the United Kingdom outbreaks of mad cow disease and foot-and-mouth disease that have recently gotten so much attention from the press.
According to the Center for Disease control, mad cow disease has been threatening people in Western European countries such as the United Kingdom and Portugal since 1996.
Recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have ranchers throughout the world running scared, although foot-and-mouth disease does not pose a health danger to humans.
'It''s crossed my mind, but it''s not something I dwell on,' said King, 20, a junior from Salt Lake majoring in art history, about the problem of the diseases.
'It kind of freaks me out, but if I''m at McDonald''s and I really want a hamburger, I''ll probably get one,' she said.
King said she thinks disease control organizations are taking care of the problem, but she will be worried if she finds out the disease still poses a major health threat.
For the time being, she intends to be cautious, but her travel plans remain the same.
King also said she trusts that the faculty in charge of the travel program will keep the students informed and safe.
Rodney Boynton, director of international study programs, agreed.
'Our faculty are very careful about the health and safety of students,' he said.
However, Boynton said all travel plans for the London program remain the same - including field trips outside of London.
Some rural areas of the United Kingdom have been restricted so the foot-and-mouth disease will not spread, but BYU students will avoid those areas, he said.
Boynton said students who will be studying abroad in London are informed about the situation before they leave and are encouraged to investigate the issue on their own.
Boynton also said he urges the students to pay strict attention to instructions they receive in London.
Although the livestock diseases may not be completely under control, the BYU program and participating students seem to be moving forward in a cautious, but optimistic manner.
'I''m not going to lay awake all night worrying about it, but I''m not going to jump at the chance to eat beef either,' King said.