Minister: Southwest prepared for animal disease

Foot and mouth disease

Minister: Southwest prepared for animal disease

Foot and mouth disease is breaking out in Brandenburg. Can the highly contagious disease also affect the southwest? Agriculture Minister Hauk calls for prudence.

After the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in a buffalo herd in Brandenburg, the southwest is well prepared, according to State Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk. “We are vigilant and can react quickly if necessary,” explained the CDU politician in response to a dpa request in Stuttgart. “Now we need to take a prudent approach that is adapted to the situation.”

Hauk pointed out bird flu and African swine fever, which were already circulating in the southwest. “All animal-keeping businesses in Baden-Württemberg have been sensitized for a long time and have been called upon to strengthen biosecurity measures in order to protect their animals as best as possible,” said Hauk, as his ministry announced.

The foot-and-mouth virus was detected in samples from water buffalo from the Brandenburg town of Hönow, not far from the Berlin city limits. Based on the characteristics of the animals’ wounds, experts at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute assume that the infection and thus its introduction into the population occurred some time ago, as a spokeswoman for the Märkisch-Oderland district said.

The responsible offices in the southwest have already been informed to examine cloven-hoofed animals for bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease, as a spokesman for the state agriculture ministry announced. “According to current findings, the situation appears to be a local event in Brandenburg.” There will be further discussions and a current assessment of the situation by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute at the beginning of next week.