Poland ramps up controls amid foot-and-mouth outbreak in Germany
by AFP Staff Writers
Warsaw (AFP) Jan 15, 2025

Poland has ramped up controls of livestock imports amid the spread of a highly contagious animal foot-and-mouth disease in neighbouring Germany, Warsaw said late on Tuesday.

It has however stopped short of halting livestock imports from Germany, a move introduced by the UK, South Korea and Mexico.

The viral infection is not dangerous to humans but affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, including sheep and pigs.

"Strict controls have been implemented on transports of animals susceptible to the disease entering the territory of Poland," Polish agriculture ministry said in a statement.

Three cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) were detected in water buffalo in a farm near Berlin on Friday.

They were the first reported incidents of the virus in Germany in more than three decades and the first in the European Union since 2011.

Neighbouring Poland was "taking extensive preventive measures", the ministry said, adding it has implemented close cooperation with German veterinary services.

There are no cases in the UK currently, although the environment and agriculture ministry warned farmers to stay vigilant.

In 2001, up to 10 million animals were culled in a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the UK which cost the national economy about GBP 8 billion ($9.8 billion).

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