Germany has taken measures to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious illness affecting cloven-hoofed animals. The first cases were reported in a herd of water buffalo in Brandenburg, just outside Berlin. As a precaution, zoos in the city have closed their doors until further notice.
The state government has banned animal transport for 72 hours in Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin but does not include it. Around 200 pigs at a nearby farm will be slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease. Authorities have also established an exclusion zone around the affected farm and will slaughter the remaining buffalo to minimize further spread.
The disease can cause fever, decreased appetite, excessive drooling, and blisters in animals, and can be fatal in some cases. The virus spreads easily through contact, airborne transmission, and contaminated equipment and vehicles.
This outbreak highlights the importance of animal health measures to prevent the spread of diseases like foot-and-mouth disease.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/german-authorities-move-to-contain-foot-and-mouth-disease/a-71274600