Foot and mouth disease
Foot and mouth disease
Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious disease with a short incubation period, which is why the disease spreads very quickly. Foot and mouth disease is harmless to humans, but is particularly infectious and disease-causing for cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and pigs, sheep and goats as well as zoo and wild animals. Animals that have recovered from the disease can remain carriers of the infectious virus for a long period of time. The virus is harmless to other animal species and humans.
In order to prevent an outbreak in Waldeck-Frankenberg, the district once again calls on all animal owners to be careful and vigilant and makes the following recommendations:
- Animal owners should prevent or reduce contact between visitors and susceptible animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or wild animals as far as possible. This also applies in particular to animal-assisted therapies or activities such as alpaca walks or circus events.
- Farmers and commercial livestock farms should also minimise contact between people outside the farm and susceptible animals and are once again being made aware of the need to comply with all biosecurity measures.
- Hunting enthusiasts should also continue to be vigilant and comply with the applicable hygiene regulations.
- People who have previously spent time in regions affected by foot-and-mouth disease should also pay more attention to appropriate hygiene measures, as the virus can also be transmitted through clothing or contaminated shoes.
Frequently asked questions:
What is foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus. In infected animals, blisters form on the inner surface of the lips, the gum line, claws and teats. The disease is also accompanied by high fever, severe pain and lameness in the affected animals, as well as a sharp drop in milk production in lactating animals. Foot-and-mouth disease is not fatal in most animals. There is no treatment for sick animals.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious disease with a short incubation period, which is why the disease spreads very quickly. It is particularly infectious and disease-causing for cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and pigs, sheep and goats as well as corresponding wild animals. Other animal species and humans do not contract the disease, or only mildly (vesicles form on the mucous membranes). Animals that have recovered from the disease can remain carriers of the infectious FMD virus for a longer period of time
Is it contagious or dangerous for humans?
Foot and mouth disease is not dangerous for humans. Infection through the consumption of food and human-to-human transmission is not known. The specialist literature describes individual infections in humans who have had direct and intensive contact with diseased cloven-hoofed animals or with the foot-and-mouth disease virus. In these rare cases, the illnesses were benign and healed spontaneously. As far as foodstuffs are concerned, no risk is assumed from pasteurised milk or dairy products, for example, under today's usual hygienic conditions. Milk and meat can therefore be consumed without hesitation.
How is the virus transmitted?
The foot-and-mouth disease virus is very stable in the environment. It can remain infectious for months to years in soil, sewage or manure as well as frozen or dried (in hair, clothing, shoes, hay, etc.). The virus is transmitted either directly between animals (via secretions or faeces) or indirectly via vehicles, equipment, shoes and clothing. Airborne transmission is also possible.
Which animals are most commonly affected?
Foot-and-mouth disease is particularly infectious and pathogenic for cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and pigs, sheep and goats as well as corresponding wild animals. Dogs, cats and other domestic animals (such as horses) cannot contract the disease. However, they can be contaminated with the virus and thus spread it indirectly.
What are the symptoms of infected animals?
Foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus. In infected animals, blisters form on the inner surface of the lips, the gum line, claws and teats. The disease is also accompanied by high fever, severe pain and lameness in the affected animals, as well as a sharp drop in milk production in lactating animals.
Does foot-and-mouth disease have anything to do with hand-foot-and-mouth disease?
No. Foot-and-mouth disease is sometimes confused with hand-foot-and-mouth disease due to similar symptoms, which is particularly common in young children. However, the diseases are in no way related to each other.
What is being done to contain foot-and-mouth disease in Germany?
Following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Brandenburg, the competent authority in Brandenburg has set up restricted zones (protection zone with a radius of at least three kilometres around the affected farm, surveillance zone with a radius of at least ten kilometres around the affected farm), from which, among other things, the transport of animals and their products is generally prohibited. The livestock holdings within the restricted zones as well as identified contact holdings have been or are being investigated in order to determine the cause and extent of the infection and, if further infected holdings are identified, to take the necessary measures as quickly as possible.
The state of Brandenburg and the city of Berlin immediately ordered a 72-hour "standstill" for cloven-hoofed animals, i.e. a complete ban on the movement of animals susceptible to FMD. This has since been extended. A "standstill" is important in order to gain relevant information about the outbreak and thus prevent further spread of the highly contagious animal disease. The zoo and animal park in Berlin are closed and no cloven-hoofed animals will be exhibited at the Green Week in Berlin.
In addition to these measures, a meeting of the Federal-Länder Task Force for Animal Disease Control was held on the day the outbreak was identified. The BMEL has also convened the Central Animal Disease Crisis Team and is consulting with the federal states and the EU on how to proceed. The responsible committee in the Bundestag will meet for a special session next Wednesday. There has also already been an exchange with the agricultural and food industry associations.