News in brief:
– The UK has restricted animal and animal product imports from Germany following the detection of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in a water buffalo herd.
– While the disease poses minimal risk to humans, it has severe economic and agricultural impacts, prompting strict containment measures.
In a press release by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), imports of animals and animal products from Germany have been restricted.
The announcement comes after German officials detected Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in a herd of water buffalo in Brandenburg, Berlin. Although they have not reported any further cases, Minister Andrew Muir insisted that the action was necessary.
“To protect Northern Ireland, we have strict import controls in place prohibiting the movement of animals and animal products from FMD-affected areas. That means that all susceptible species and their products from disease control zones in Germany are restricted from moving to Northern Ireland,” he said.
He acknowledged the steps that his counterparts in Germany are taking towards preventing the spread of the disease, including culling and safe disposal of all animals of susceptible species and the establishment of disease control zones. Also, he mentioned that they have set up surveillance systems to monitor the situation.
The disease is a highly contagious virus that affects animals with clove hoof such as cattle, sheep and pigs. It is not considered a public health threat because it poses only minimal direct health risks to humans. Rare cases of human infection have been reported but are exceedingly uncommon and usually mild, with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and blisters.
In addition, the disease does not compromise food safety, as meat and dairy products from infected animals that are properly processed and cooked remain safe to consume.
However, the indirect effects on farmers and the economy are far-reaching, as an outbreak often leads to costly containment measures, market disruptions, and loss of consumer confidence in livestock products. Awareness and proactive prevention strategies, including vaccination and biosecurity measures, are crucial to mitigate its spread and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
Infected animals experience fever, blisters on their mouths and feet, reduced productivity, and sometimes death in severe cases, particularly among young animals. This can lead to significant economic losses due to decreased milk production, lower meat quality, and higher mortality rates.
