Austria will close two small border crossings with Slovakia and 21 crossings with Hungary starting Saturday, April 5, to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease into the country.
According to a statement from Austria’s Ministry of the Interior, this decision comes in light of an outbreak that was recently discovered in Slovakia.
On April 1, Slovakia declared a state of emergency after the disease was found on three farms. To bolster efforts to prevent the disease from spreading into Austria, the country will focus its police resources on the main border crossings, the ministry said.
The ministry further requested public understanding, emphasizing that they could not provide specific details, such as the timing, personnel, or nature of the checks at different locations, to avoid undermining the police efforts.
It’s worth noting that Hungary faced its first outbreak of this highly infectious disease in 50 years. As a result, Hungary deployed troops on April 2 and began disinfection efforts in the border areas near Slovakia and Austria.
Foot-and-mouth disease primarily affects cattle and other hoofed animals like pigs, sheep, and goats, causing fever and blisters in the mouth. While it does not pose a risk to humans, outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions and the culling of affected livestock.
