The last foot and mouth disease case in Europe was reported in Bulgaria in 2011.
After nearly four decades of being foot and mouth disease free, Germany has confirmed an infection in a herd of water buffalo in Märkisch-Oderland, Brandenburg. According to the National Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, local authorities have taken control and protection measures, and further tests are being carried out at the FLI to determine the exact nature of the virus. An FLI team is also supporting the outbreak investigation on the ground.
A severe, fast-spreading viral disease that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cows, pigs, sheep, goats and deer, FMD is one of the most economically devastating and challenging animal diseases to control. Symptoms include fever, blisters on the feet and mouth, loss of appetite, drooling and lameness. Most herds affected are culled, as in the case of the 2001 UK FMD outbreak and the loss of more than 10 million animals.
FMD was eradicated from the United States in 1929.
The last time Germany reported an FMD outbreak was in 1988 in Lower Saxony. Europe hasn't had a positive case since Bulgaria in 2011.
However, FMD remains endemic in Turkey, the Middle East and Africa, many Asian countries and parts of South America. The FLI notes illegally imported animal products from these countries often pose a threat to European agriculture.
In a statement, the World Organization for Animal Health acknowledged Germany’s official FMD outbreak notification. While the FMD virus is not considered a public health issue, WOAH notes it’s crucial to stay vigilant due to the easy transmission of the virus and the significant economic impact the disease can have.
"Germany has already been putting containment measures in place. Early detection and rapid response are critical to contain any outbreak. WOAH is fully committed to supporting its members to prevent and rapidly respond to the risk associated with FMD along with its partners and network of reference laboratories."
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