Concerns in Europe over the spread of foot-and-mouth disease

In January last year,   Germany   confirmed a foot-and-mouth disease infection in a buffalo in Märkisch-Oderland, Brandenburg. It was the first outbreak in Europe since Bulgaria in 2011. Before that, a major outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred in the UK in 2001 , followed by France , Ireland and the Netherlands.

On March 12, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WHO) reinstated the status of "foot-and-mouth disease-free without vaccination" for most of Germany, with the exception of part of the containment zone, where foot-and-mouth disease control measures will remain in place until at least April 11.

While this is good news , foot-and-mouth disease is now present in other European countries. This includes Hungary and Slovakia, countries where outbreaks of serotype 0 have been reported. In response to this situation, Austria has stepped up controls and closed 24 border crossings with two neighboring countries affected by foot-and-mouth disease. In addition, Austrian authorities have announced that they are preparing emergency measures in case the disease is detected on a farm.

Similarly, other European countries are taking steps to protect themselves and prepare for the spread of the disease.   Italy   has already announced a series of measures, effective immediately, to control the movement of vehicles transporting animals from risk areas.

Denmark has also urged its residents to take precautions to prevent the disease from entering the country. For example, it urges hunters, hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts near restricted areas to clean their clothes, shoes and equipment. Similarly, remind people, such as veterinarians who work with livestock in Hungary and Slovakia, of this warning. 

Germany also requested laboratory tests for animals showing symptoms such as fever, salivation, lesions around the mouth, nose, udder and hooves, and lameness. The document also urges travelers not to bring raw dairy products or products containing undercooked meat from areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease .

It should be noted here that the transmission of the foot-and-mouth disease virus usually occurs through direct contact between animals. However, since the virus is highly resistant, “the disease can also be spread by wind or by indirect contact through the transport of animal products and contact with contaminated materials,” warn French authorities. It is worth noting that France has a network of four laboratories that can be mobilized in the event of a crisis in the country “to carry out first-line diagnostic tests seven days a week.”

For its part, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recommends “strengthening protocols for cleaning and disinfecting vehicles, as well as increasing awareness of existing risks and passive surveillance on farms, immediately notifying the official veterinary services of the Autonomous Community of any suspicion of the disease.”

South America Close to Eradicating Foot-and-Mouth Disease

In contrast, South America is close to becoming a region completely free of foot-and-mouth disease, and there is no need to vaccinate cattle there. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), “two out of three cattle are in a disease-free zone. Across the region, more than 80% of cattle are in this condition.”

Additionally, next month, Bolivia and   Brazil   will receive recognition for successfully eliminating the disease without the need for vaccination .

According to the health agency, the success is the result of public and private sector action by countries that are part of the South American Commission for the Control of Diseases. PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa confirms that intersectoral collaboration is crucial to achieving these successes, as is the countries’ strong commitment to sustainable development.

In South America, the proportion of cattle in unvaccinated areas increased from 35% to 65%, including Brazil and Bolivia. “Being in a region free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination means that countries have managed to control the disease without relying on systematic immunization of the herd. This is a measure that reduces maintenance costs and increases competitiveness in world markets,” they recall.