She didn't 'inherit' it - she actively chose it. Whatever we might think of her, we have to accept that she is an intelligent person, and even I could see that taking on that job at that time was going to be awful. So, again, she actively chose to do this. And I don't think she has handled it...
Think you might be mixing up your foot and mouths. The 2007 incidents were not really an outbreak, being confined to four farms. 2001 was the real foot and mouth epidemic, and led to the planned general election in May being postponed. I can still smell the burning now.