CVO urges caution after Germany FMD case

16th January 2025
Industry News

The UK’s most senior vet has warned farmers to be vigilant following confirmation of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) case in Germany.

Defra announced on 14 January a ban on imports of German cattle, pigs, sheep and associated products into Great Britain following the country’s first FMD infection since 1988.

But the department has also stressed there are no current cases in the UK and the situation is being kept under review.

Single case

UK CVO Christine Middlemiss said: “We remain in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of foot-and-mouth disease.

“We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk incursion and spread of this devastating disease.

“I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”

Rigorous

Although FMD does not pose a risk to human or food safety, farmers are being warned to be “absolutely rigorous” about their biosecurity arrangements to prevent a disease outbreak.

More than six million animals were slaughtered during the UK’s last major FMD outbreak in 2001.

 

Credit to: CVO urges caution after Germany FMD case (Vet Times)

Vet Times. (2025). CVO urges caution after Germany FMD case [online]

Available at: https://www.vettimes.co.uk/news/cvo-urges-caution-after-germany-fmd-case/