Which disease outbreak caused the 2001 Isle of Man TT to be cancelled?

The 2001 Isle of Man TT was cancelled because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The decision was taken during the UK outbreak in spring and summer 2001, largely to reduce the risk of the disease reaching the Isle of Man.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. It is not the same as a human respiratory epidemic, but a large international sporting event could involve substantial movement of people, vehicles, animals, equipment and contaminated material.

The cancellation was exceptional for an event that had been staged in most years since its inaugural meeting in 1907. The TT had already been interrupted by the two World Wars, and disease became another reason a running was abandoned. The races resumed in 2002 after the immediate outbreak conditions had passed.

The alternative options are later or unrelated disease references. SARS emerged internationally in 2002–03, while avian influenza was not the cause of the 2001 TT cancellation; measles was unrelated.