Cyprus
Defra has confirmed a case of FMD (foot-and-mouth disease) in cattle and sheep in Larnaca, Cyprus.
The UK Government has applied restrictions on certain Cypriot commercial imports to Great Britain. Commercial imports of cheeses from Cyprus, including halloumi, remain permitted provided they meet the heat treatment requirements and are accompanied by the mandatory health certificate.
Personal imports of meat and dairy (including halloumi) from the EU remain prohibited in line with restrictions brought in last year.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Twenty five years ago today, we were less than a week into the devastating foot-and-mouth outbreak. That crisis cost the UK economy billions, and I know the emotional scars still remain.
“We welcome the swift action to restrict imports from Cyprus. Speaking at NFU Conference, the Secretary of State accepted there was more to do on biosecurity. We need to see government fighting illegal meat imports, ensuring the Border Force have the resources they need to stamp out this practice.
“This is a timely reminder about the importance of border security, and I urge all UK livestock keepers to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases. It’s also vital that tourists and hauliers play their part and adhere to strict biosecurity and personal import rules.”
Slovakia
Six separate cases of FMD (foot and mouth disease) have been reported by the Slovak Government.
Five of the affected farms are in the south of the country, close to the border with Hungary, with the first reported on 20 March. A further case was reported on 30 March on a farm located 70km from the earlier affected farms. The serotype matches with the cases in Hungary.
Cases of FMD have not been reported in Slovakia since 1973.
Control measures are being implemented by Slovakian authorities, including protection zones and surveillance zones and the movement of animals is prohibited. Affected animals will be vaccinated and culled.
Hungary
The Slovakian cases follow confirmation of FMD in Germany on 10 January and in Hungary on 7 March – Germany’s first outbreak in almost 40 years, and the first in Hungary in more than 50 years.
A second farm in Hungary reported infection with FMD on 26 March.
Serotype O has subsequently been confirmed. Its sequence shows the highest similarity with a strain isolated in Pakistan in 2017-18 (98- 99%). This strain differs from the one found in Germany in January 2025, meaning the outbreaks are not linked.
Germany
Earlier this year, FMD virus serotype O was confirmed in a herd of water buffalo near Brandenberg, in the Markisch Odèland district of Germany (to the east of Berlin). This is the first instance of FMD in Germany since 1988.
The cases were confirmed on 10 January 2025 and affected three water buffalo out of a herd of 14. The remaining animals in the herd were culled to prevent further spread.
200 pigs on a nearby farm were also culled as a precaution.
No further cases of FMD have been found in Germany. The State of Brandeburg and Berlin initially imposed a standstill for cloven-hoofed animals. This standstill lasted until 17 January 2025 in Brandenburg and 27 January in Berlin.
Veal calves were moved from Brandenburg to the Netherlands before FMD was detected, but no cases have been reported in the Netherlands following testing. The Dutch Government imposed a ban on the movement of calves while investigations and testing were carried out. These restrictions were lifted on 24 January 2025.
Nine farms in Belgium were placed under precautionary quarantine following the movement of animals from Brandenburg to Belgium. However, no cases have been detected.
Vaccines
Suitable vaccines against FMDV (foot-and-mouth disease virus), serotype O are available in the German FMD antigen bank. Once activated by the Länder, the FMD antigen bank can produce the necessary vaccines within a few days.
Surveillance information will determine any further measures that may need to be taken, as well as whether and how to use a vaccine.
Suppressive vaccination is being used on the infected farms in Slovakia and on the second infected farm in Hungary. The vaccine reduces viral load in densely population areas and has been used to reduce the immediate pressure on human, logistic and technical resources.
