By RNZ
A foot-and-mouth outbreak could cost New Zealand $14.3 billion in lost export revenue a year.
A new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease here would have dramatic impacts, with an immediate halt to most exports of animal products and a potential and ongoing drop in export values of around $14.3b a year.
Foot-and-mouth disease is caused by a contagious virus and affects cloven-hooved animals, like cows, pigs, sheep, goats and deer.
It causes blisters and sores to form around the mouth, muzzle, feet and teats of these animals.