More animals are continuing to be killed as a precautionary measure in Germany a few days after the first outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in more than 35 years.
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On Monday, 55 goats and sheep and three cattle were slaughtered as a precautionary measure on a farm in Schöneiche in Germany’s Brandenburg state days after a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak was confirmed.
The affected farm had purchased hay from a buffalo farm in Hönow a few days prior, where the disease was first reported and confirmed. A 72-hour ban on transporting cows, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals was immediately put in place to prevent further spread of the disease.
Investigations since have indicated that the disease has not spread further in Brandenburg, and is contained within the two farms in Schöneiche and Hönow. “The samples currently being analysed have not shown any further positive results,” says Hanka Mittelstädt, Brandenburg Minister of Agriculture.
“Whether these 72-hours will be extended, or other measures will be taken remains to be seen” she added.
Germany’s federal lawmakers were also reeled in to respond to this matter. Federal Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir noted that it’s too early to tell if the disease is fully contained, adding that rigorous testing is taking place to ensure its containment.
“At this point in time, we cannot say whether it will remain with one farm or whether other farms will be affected. We naturally hope, together with our livestock farmers and the export-oriented industry affected, that this is a limited area,” says Özdemir.
The outbreak, the first since 1988, is sure to have drastic consequences. Germany’s animal product exports turnover approximately €10 billion annually, with their biggest customer being the United Kingdom.
The loss of Berlin’s FMD-free status means veterinary certificates for exports outside the European Union is not longer possible.
Özdemir says the outbreak will also likely affect the exports of milk and dairy products, meat products, hides, skins and blood products. Özdemir says the ministry “assumed third countries would immediately impose bans on such goods from Germany”, further limiting their supply possibilities.
The Federal Agriculture Minister stressed that the immediate goal is to ensure the disease’s containment.
FMD causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Some decades ago, the outbreak took most of the world by storm, and required major slaughtering campaigns to eradicate.
The disease, though highly infectious, poses no threat to humans, neither by contact nor by consumption of an infected animal’s meat or milk.
The disease occurs regularly in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to some Asian and South American countries.
Up to 1991-1992, FMD was controlled in Europe via systematic vaccination programs of the entire cattle population across the continent. Soon after, when Europe was officially disease free for a number of years, vaccines were discontinued, and cases have since remained very low.