Brandenburg and Berlin Declared Free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Brandenburg and Berlin have officially regained their status as free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) following a significant outbreak earlier this year. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved the request from both regions, alongside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, confirming the lifting of restrictions previously imposed in response to the outbreak.

The last quarantine zone, established around the affected buffalo herd in Hönow, has been dismantled after comprehensive testing of both domestic and wild animals yielded negative results for the disease. As of Monday, Germany has been reinstated as FMD-free without the need for vaccination, a status that now extends to the districts of Märkisch-Oderland and Barnim.

Although this development is seen as a positive stride toward animal health safety, Brandenburg's Minister of Agriculture, Hanka Mittelstädt, has cautioned against complacency. She highlighted that the risk of reintroduction of the disease remains, particularly due to potential transmissions from infected regions, notably following recent outbreaks in Slovakia and Hungary. Consequently, it is imperative for livestock owners to maintain strict biosecurity measures, including access restrictions to animal holdings, along with thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols.

This FMD outbreak was the first in Germany in over 35 years, initially detected in January within a buffalo herd in Hönow, located in the Märkisch-Oderland district. In response, the European Commission established a quarantine zone extending six kilometers around the outbreak site, which involved stringent restrictions such as a ban on animal transport.

The lifting of the quarantine zone is a significant relief for farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole, as it allows for the resumption of normal operations and trade. The authorities are now focused on ensuring that the region remains vigilant to prevent future outbreaks, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and rapid response protocols to mitigate any potential threats to animal health.