A month from new cases, is Europe’s foot-and-mouth epidemic finally over?

On March 7 this year, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was detected in a herd of dairy cattle in Kisbajcs, Hungary, the first case seen in the country since 1973.

It soon spread to several other regions, including Rábapordány, Dunakiliti, Daronózseli, and Levél, with the country reporting five outbreaks overall. Hungary’s government imposed biosecurity measures to slow the spread.

However, on March 21, the outbreak was found to have spread outside of Hungary, having been detected on three farms in neighbouring Slovakia.

How long could the outbreak last?Following the discovery of FMD in Slovakia, another case has been reported in Hungary. Vast biosecurity measures have been taken, including stamping out measures, movement control, disinfection and surveillance.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), 8,422 animals have been culled as a direct result of outbreaks (a figure that does not take into account those animals culled in the areas around the outbreaks).

Countries including Slovakia, Austria, and the Czech Republic have closed their borders for trade with Hungary.

The outbreak has also seen an impact in terms of commodity prices. The price of beef has, according to Expana’s beef market reporter Rutika Ghodekar, risen in recent months due to limited availability of cattle for slaughter.

However, following the case found in Hungary on April 17, no new cases have been discovered.

The WOAH cannot declare the outbreak over until three months has passed since the last animal was killed and the slaughter of all vaccinated animals.

As the incubation period for FMD is between two and 14 days, however, this means that the likelihood of finding another case is small, although it’s too early to discount this possibility completely.

What is foot-and-mouth disease?Foot-and-mouth disease is a viral infection usually found in cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other “cloven-footed ruminants” (WOAH). Blisters are the main symptoms, and can be found on the nose, lips or tongue, on the teats, inside the mouth, between the toes or above the hooves, or at pressure points on the skin. Other symptoms include fever, depresssion, hypersalivation, loss of appetite and weight loss. The mortality rate is higher in younger animals, and it is generally not fatal to adult animals. It doesn’t pose a health risk to humans.

Why has the disease spread so far?In January this year, Germany detected FMD in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin. This led to biosecurity measures in Germany being stepped up, and other countries, such as South Korea, Mexico and the UK, banning some German meat imports.

However, in the case of Germany, the outbreak fizzled out fairly quickly. No new cases were discovered after the first in January, and on March 12, WOAH declared the majority of the country FMD-free, with containment measures remaining in place until April 11.

This has not been the case for Hungary’s outbreak, where multiple cases have been detected in Hungary and beyond. What makes the two outbreaks different?

“A variety of factors may have led to the more expanded spread of the disease in Hungary and Slovakia, compared to the earlier occurrence in January in Germany. These include the virus load, cattle density and transmission factors such as movements of animals and winds. However, accurate insights into how the disease spread will be offered by the national epidemiological investigation,” explained a WOAH spokesperson.