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Germany Reports First Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in Nearly 40 Years
First Case in Nearly 40 Years
German authorities confirmed the country’s first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease since 1988. The case was identified last week in a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin, in the Brandenburg region.
No New Cases Detected
Intensive testing of animals on nearby farms revealed no additional cases within a 1-kilometer radius of the initial outbreak, according to Brandenburg’s agriculture ministry.
Containment Measures in Place
Authorities have imposed a ban on animal transport in the affected region, which will remain in effect until Wednesday. Investigations into the source and potential spread of the disease are ongoing.
Disease Details
Foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle, swine, sheep, and goats, causing fever and blisters in the mouth and hooves. The disease is highly infectious but poses no threat to humans.
Economic Implications
The outbreak has significant economic repercussions. Germany’s federal agriculture ministry noted that even a single case could severely disrupt exports of meat and dairy products to countries outside the EU. Due to the loss of foot-and-mouth disease-free status under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) requirements, veterinary certificates for certain exports can no longer be issued.
UK Implements Import Ban
In response to the outbreak, the UK has banned imports of pig meat and other meat and dairy products from Germany. Between January and October 2024, the UK imported 117,340 metric tons of pig meat from Germany, valued at £448 million.
Global Context
Foot-and-mouth disease is endemic in parts of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America, according to the FLI animal health research institute.