Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has called for farmers in Ireland to be vigilant after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany.
Authorities in Germany have today (Friday, January 10), 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 Märkisch-Oderland, which borders Poland and stretches to the outskirts of the capital Berlin.
The country’s department of agriculture said measures to destroy the affected animals and to set up exclusion zones were put in place immediately.
Commenting on this outbreak, Minister McConalogue said: “I am dismayed to hear of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany today. I know this is a terrible blow to German farmers, particularly the affected herdowner and their neighbours.
“I know the German authorities are working hard to resolve this. I want to urge everyone in Ireland, particularly farmers, to stay vigilant and to protect our Irish livestock,” he added.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. It causes very significant economic losses, due to production losses in the affected animals and due to the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries.
FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk. Ireland is free of FMD, having had its last case in 2001.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed that no animals susceptible to FMD (including cattle, sheep, and pigs) have been imported to Ireland from Germany since November 1, 2024.
The department said this is “long before” the case in Germany would have been first infected.
Ireland’s controls to prevent FMD include strict prohibitions on the imports of animals and animal products from countries in which FMD is present; a comprehensive veterinary surveillance system to detect unusual disease outbreaks; and active follow up and veterinary investigation of any suspected reports.
If a foot-and-mouth disease case were to be identified in Ireland, the infected herd would be culled in its entirety; the site disinfected; and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone set up, within which very strict movement controls and testing would be imposed.
After an initial FMD case in Ireland, a national movement ban would be imposed.
The department warned that a case of FMD here would result in the immediate loss of market access for Irish animals and animal products.
Any suspect cases of FMD in Ireland should be reported immediately to the local regional veterinary office or by phone to the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 (outside of office hours).