Today’s news / Low risk of Foot-and-Mouth disease spreading to Denmark

Low risk of Foot-and-Mouth disease spreading to Denmark

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration reported a low chance of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Germany reaching Denmark. The recent outbreak occurred in a water buffalo herd near Berlin, marking the first instance since 1988 in Germany. The source is unclear, which means the risk assessment for Denmark carries some uncertainty. The risk through most pathways, such as hunting and tourism, is categorized as ‘very low’ to ‘low.’ Minister Jacob Jensen emphasized vigilance, especially among hunters and tourists. In the affected German herd, three buffaloes died and 11 were culled. Foot-and-mouth is highly contagious among cloven-hoofed animals but does not harm humans. Denmark advises against feeding kitchen waste to animals and calls for the prompt cleaning of transport after animal transit to prevent spreading.