Foot -and-mouth disease in Germany. Polish authorities react
Polish farmers are concerned about the transmission of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease into the country, including through the transport of livestock. They say there should be a total ban on importing animals from Germany. Krzysztof Jażdżewski, Chief Veterinarian, explains why this is not possible.
An outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease virus, which causes disease in cloven-hoofed animals (ruminants), was detected on January 10 this year in Germany, near the border with Poland (Brandenburg). All animal movement throughout Brandenburg has also been halted since January 10. This is important information, especially in the context of questions that have been raised about why Poland has not imposed a total embargo on animal imports from Germany.
First of all, this is regulated quite precisely in Polish law, specifically in the Law on Protection of Animal Health. There it is clearly written that, first of all, if you even introduce such a ban, you have to inform the European Commission, the country concerned, and this ban can be in force at most until the issuance of EU regulations in this regard. And the EU regulations were already issued on January 13. So if we had imposed a ban in this area, we would have automatically had to take it off on Monday (Jan. 13). Secondly, there was absolutely no point in introducing such a ban, due to the fact that Germany itself had introduced such a ban at home, - explained Dr. Jażdżewski, Poland's Chief Veterinary Officer.
But the issue at hand is a ban on animal movement within Brandenburg. Poland does not want to ask for a ban on the movement of animals throughout Germany, as it supports the worldwide necessity of adhering to regionalization. Implementing the ban in question would contradict what Poland has been preaching for years on the issue of regionalization.
According to Jazdżewski, paradoxically - for the time being - the possible entry of the FMD virus into Poland has been protected from the possible entry of the virus.... bluetongue, specifically the ban on the movement of cattle issued in connection with the disease. Nevertheless, Polish CVO noted the need for prevention. This is because pigs from Denmark, for example, are still being imported into Poland.
The Polish authorities stress that it is important to make sure where we source hay and straw for the animals, as this can also be a source of FMD infection. It's also worth trying to limit human (visitor) contact with animals on the farm to zero. And especially now, with the kind of weather we're currently having: it's cool and humid, and such conditions are conducive to the spread of viruses.
Jażdżewski also raises the subject of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease, while stressing that he is already in contact with the European Commission on this issue, among others.
Source: Farmer.pl, TopAgrar.pl