Why foot-and-mouth disease in Germany has led to border closures and protests. Answers to key questions

For the first time in a long time, there has been an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a disease dangerous for animals, in Germany. Several countries, including Russia, introduced a ban on imports of meat and dairy products from the European Union, and within the association tightened control over supplies. Where the virus could appear in Germany, what consequences it will entail for the economy and what it is dangerous for humans - in the material "Izvestia".

What happened in Germany?

- The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred on January 9 on a small farm where water buffalo were kept. The outbreak was located in the Merkisch-Oderland district of Brandenburg, east of Berlin. Regional authorities imposed a moratorium on the movement of disease-prone animals. It was in effect until January 17 in Brandenburg and until the 27th in Berlin. Both zoos in the German capital were also closed.

- For Germany, this is the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 37 years. The disease has not been reported in the European Union (EU) since 2011, when it was discovered in a wild boar population in Bulgaria. The last major foci of infection in European agriculture were recorded in 2001 and 2007 in the UK. Most of the EU is now recognized as FMD-free.

- A 3 km radius protection zone and a 10 km radius surveillance zone have been established around the farm where FMD was detected. The transportation of animals and animal parts is prohibited from these zones. No new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been detected in Germany since January 9.

How could foot-and-mouth disease have appeared in Germany?

- The closest country to Germany where FMD outbreaks have recently been reported is Turkey. In December 2024, type O virus was detected there, the same as in Brandenburg. Turkey has land and sea borders with the European Union, within which there is free movement of agricultural products and livestock.

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- In addition, Turkey is an intermediary in the transshipment of cargo and migration from lizard-unfavorable countries of the Middle East and Africa to Ukraine. According to Rosselkhoznadzor, it is from Ukraine to Europe that uncontrolled movement of livestock and livestock products takes place. This poses a threat to all European countries bordering on the west of Ukraine. Preliminarily, the most probable way of its spread is called the route Turkey - Ukraine - Poland - Germany.

- In 2024, Romania, in close proximity to the border with Ukraine, has already experienced an outbreak of another disease dangerous for livestock - small ruminant plague virus. The easternmost outbreak was quite close to Odessa, through which potentially infectious products are transshipped.

What measures were taken?

- Rosselkhoznadzor first banned the import of meat and dairy products from Germany into Russia, and then extended the restrictions to the entire European Union. Products are seized, including from tourists crossing the border. Certification of animals and veterinary-controlled animal products transported from the EU to Russia or in transit to third countries has also been halted. The bans may last for about a month.

- Restrictive measures on the supply of meat and dairy products from Germany have also been introduced by Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belarus, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Canada, Mexico and other countries. Within the European Union, Germany's neighboring countries have tightened control over supplies.

- According to a German agriculture ministry spokesman, the economic impact of the restrictions is still unclear. It largely depends on the scale and duration of restrictions on imports of German products imposed by other countries. At the same time, according to German media, the meat industry estimates its losses at €500 million. In 2024, Germany exported meat worth €5 billion.

- According to the requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health, Germany will now not be able to obtain veterinary certificates for exporting products from livestock farms outside the EU. Meanwhile, within the union, Berlin is still selling livestock products that were not produced in the regions where the outbreak was reported.

- Polish farmers went on a protest on January 27, demanding to close the border with Germany for the importation of agricultural products. They fear that the appearance of foot-and-mouth disease in their country will lead to mass slaughter of livestock.

What is the danger of foot-and-mouth disease for animals?

- FMD primarily affects cattle and pigs. Sheep, goats and wild animals are also susceptible. The disease causes fever and vesicular lesions on the mouth, udder, and limbs. Sometimes infected animals are asymptomatic carriers.

- In the acute course, cows have fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and profuse salivation. The walls of the vesicles may rupture and form erosion. Large animals die within 5-14 days, while calves die within two days after infection.

- In pigs, foot-and-mouth disease causes red swellings that may develop into blisters. When limbs are affected, animals become lame and hooves may fall off. Death occurs within 8-25 days, affecting up to 80% of animals in the herd.

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- With timely treatment it is possible to reduce mortality to 5%. However, slaughter of sick and suspected animals, forced vaccination around the focus of infection, prophylactic immunization, and quarantine measures are more often used to control the disease.

Is foot-and-mouth disease dangerous for humans?

- For humans, foot-and-mouth disease is not considered a dangerous disease that can provoke an epidemic. Basically, it threatens unpleasant symptoms and the risk of complications, but with timely hygiene and proper treatment, the prognosis for infection is favorable.

- Foot-and-mouth disease is not transmitted from person to person, but only from infected animals. It can occur through direct contact, by consuming raw milk, dairy products or meat, in extreme cases through contaminated indoor air, especially when immunity is weakened. Therefore, in order to stop the spread of the virus, import bans are imposed even on personal foodstuffs produced near the center of spread (currently, a temporary ban is in place on importing meat and dairy products produced in the EU into Russia).

- The symptoms of FMD include fever, blisters and ulcers on mucous surfaces and skin, pain on swallowing, increased salivation, and general weakness. The disease can cause secondary bacterial infections due to ulcers, dehydration, prolonged discomfort and loss of function. At the same time, fatal cases are extremely rare, only isolated episodes among children with low immunity are known.

- The incubation period in humans lasts about a week, often without symptoms. There is no specific treatment for FMD, therapy against specific effects is usually prescribed. Antibiotics are used only in case of complications. After recovery, immunity to FMD is formed, but only to a specific strain of the virus.