An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a contagious disease threatening cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, has been detected in the Märkisch-Oderland district, located right by the Polish border.
The outbreak was identified in a border region just east of Berlin, only a few kilometers away from Poland, near the town of Kostrzyn on the Oder River.
The Deputy Governor of West Pomerania, Bartosz Brożyński, assured that no cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed in Poland for over five decades, but due to the proximity to the border, special caution is being taken.
Special animal transport controls have also been introduced at the Polish-German border, which will continue until further notice.
What is FMD? Symptoms and how it affects livestock
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection that affects livestock, leading to fever and blisters on their mouths and feet.
While it does not pose a threat to humans or household pets, it can severely impact livestock populations. The last confirmed case of FMD in Poland was reported in 1971.
Source: PAP/FAO.org/Facebook/Bartosz Brożyński - Wicewojewoda Zachodniopomorski
(m p)