The announcement follows the detection of Germany’s first outbreak of FMD since 1988, reported on January 10, 2025, in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin, in the Brandenburg region.
Partial restoration of disease-free status took place in mid-March, with the majority of the country declared FMD-free except for the containment zone around the outbreak area. Shortly after, the United Kingdom lifted its import ban on German livestock and animal products.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. Although usually non-fatal, it leads to significant economic losses due to trade restrictions and animal culling.
The broader European context remains tense. In March, Hungary reported its first case of FMD in more than 50 years, detected on a cattle farm near the Austrian and Slovakian borders. In response, several countries have intensified biosecurity measures and surveillance efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.
thepigsite.com