Germany has confirmed its first case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in nearly 40 years, with an outbreak detected in a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin. The highly infectious disease causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, swine, sheep, and goats.
Measures to contain FMD are underway, including the euthanasia of infected animals and the establishment of an exclusion zone around the affected area. No products or animals will be allowed to leave this 3-kilometer radius. Local authorities are investigating how the outbreak occurred but say there’s no need for federal or international action.
FMD is a significant threat to European agriculture, with the European Union and Germany considered free from the disease. However, it regularly appears in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, often due to illegally imported animal products. Experts warn that this poses a risk to European farms.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/germany-confirms-first-case-foot-and-mouth-disease-nearly-40-years-2025-01-10