A second case of foot-and-mouth disease is now suspected in Germany in a neighbouring area to the first confirmed case.
Last week, authorities in Germany confirmed the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the country since 1988.
The outbreak was confirmed in water buffalo in the state of Brandenburg, which is situated in the north-east of Germany.
The outbreak occurred in the district of Markisch-Oderland, which borders Poland and stretches to the outskirts of the capital Berlin.
Today (Friday, January 17), a new suspected case has been notified in the district of Barnim.
Second foot-and-mouth case
During a clinical examination in this second suspected case, symptoms were found in animals kept in the Barnim district that indicate a possible infection with FMD.
The affected animals were immediately sampled in order to make a reliable diagnosis.
The samples were sent to the state laboratory for evaluation on the evening of January 15. So far, the suspicion has neither been confirmed nor dispelled, according to authorities.
The final result is expected today (Friday, January 17).
A spokesperson for the areas said: “The Barnim district is in close contact with the state crisis center and the affected authorities in Barnim.
“Since the outbreak of FMD last week, all necessary measures to contain the disease have been implemented.
“In particular, animal owners, farmers and those authorised to hunt are asked to observe the general animal disease control order of the Barnim district.”
In order to provide all relevant information in one place, the Barnim district has launched a website on the issue.
“We ask the public for their understanding of the measures taken and will inform the public immediately as soon as the laboratory results are available,” the spokesperson concluded.
Animal health
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious, but usually non-fatal, viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals which may, however, also affect certain other species.
The disease is spread across the world. However, FMD has not been present in the European Union for several years, according to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Germany.
FMD is a vesicular disease of the claws, the oral mucosa and the udder that cannot be distinguished from other vesicular diseases in clinical terms. Laboratory diagnostics are therefore decisive to clarify suspect cases.
The virus can easily be transmitted by animate or inanimate vectors, especially by animals during the incubation period or by clinically-affected animals and their products. But it can also spread over long distances by air.
Animals that have recovered from the disease can remain carriers of the infectious FMD virus over a long period of time.
FMD is harmless to humans. Under today’s hygiene conditions, pasteurised milk or milk products pose no risk to consumer health.
