Germany relaxes measures following foot-and-mouth disease case

Germany is relaxing some of the restrictions imposed after a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) case and believes the measures taken to contain the outbreak are working, Reuters reported, citing the Ministry of Agriculture.

Germany announced its first FMD outbreak in nearly 40 years on January 10 in a water buffalo herd near Berlin. The outbreak remains confined to a single case, though the cause is still unknown. The European Commission approved lifting the three-kilometer protection zone around the initial case, which will now be designated as an observation zone, since no new cases have been detected, said the Ministry of Agriculture. This measure will remain in effect until February 24; afterwards, a smaller area will remain under observation until April 11. For Germany to be considered free of FMD, three months must pass without any new cases.

The Ministry said it is preparing a request to the World Organization for Animal Health for Germany to be officially declared free of the disease. This could allow the lifting of restrictions on exports of German meat and dairy products.

“Our decisive action against foot-and-mouth disease is paying off,” said Germany’s Minister of Agriculture, Cem Oezdemir. “The outbreak is still confined to a single farm. This shows that the measures we took were correct and effective.”