Urgent Measures Needed as Foot-and-Mouth Disease Spreads in Europe and the Near East

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued an alert following recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Europe and the introduction of a rare virus strain (SAT1) into Iraq and Bahrain. The disease, highly contagious among cloven-hoofed animals, threatens food security, livestock health, and trade. Although not harmful to humans, FMD severely reduces meat and milk yields, leading to an estimated $21 billion in global losses annually. The recent detection of FMD in Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria has prompted countries like the UK to restrict imports. In response, FAO recommends heightened surveillance, public awareness campaigns, strict biosecurity protocols, vaccination using well-matched strains, and robust contingency planning. Preventing the movement of potentially contaminated animals and materials, and isolating sick animals, are key to containment. The situation emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and early detection to limit the virus’s spread and protect vulnerable agricultural systems.

09-05-2025