Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most serious infectious diseases affecting livestock. For this reason, the Danish food authorities are closely following the outbreak of the disease in Berlin.

On Friday, German authorities confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin. The animals in the herd have been culled, and German authorities have established restriction zones around the area. These zones impose restrictions on the movement of susceptible animals into and out of the affected areas to minimize the risk of further spread.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is closely monitoring the situation and is in ongoing dialogue with both German veterinary authorities and the EU Commission. Additionally, the Administration has convened Denmark’s expert group on foot-and-mouth disease, which includes representatives from the agricultural industry, Statens Serum Institut, the University of Copenhagen, the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), the Danish Veterinary Association, and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration itself.

The Administration is currently preparing a risk assessment. Once completed, it will evaluate the need for any additional measures or information. In the meantime, the Administration urges everyone in the industry to take precautions to prevent the disease from spreading to their herds. This includes minimizing visits to herds, especially if transports, guests, or others come from the affected area near Berlin.

Although the disease does not infect humans, all cloven-hoofed animals—such as cattle, pigs, wild ruminants, sheep, and goats—are susceptible to the disease, which cannot be cured.

Read the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration’s press release HERE

Foto: Martijn Vonk, Unsplash