Irish farmers have been out on alert for foot and mouth disease (FMD) after an outbreak was detected in Germany.
Ireland has been foot and mouth free since 2001.
That last outbreak was estimated to have cost the economy hundreds of millions of Euro in losses to the agriculture industry and a drop in tourism.
“I am dismayed to hear of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany today. I know this is a terrible blow to German farmers, particularly the affected herdowner and their neighbours. I know the German authorities are working hard to resolve this. I want to urge everyone in Ireland, particularly farmers, to stay vigilant and to protect our Irish livestock”, said Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue TD in a statement.
The disease was detected in water buffalo in the state of Brandenburg. The German authorities have put in place strict controls.
The German case is the only one currently recorded in Europe.
Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said it is taking action to protect Irish livestock following this outbreak.
The department has confirmed that “no animals susceptible to FMD have been imported into Ireland from Germany since 1st November 2024, which is long before the case in Germany would have been first infected.”
Foot and mouth disease is one of the most contagious diseases of livestock. It can infect cattle, sheep and pigs.
FMD is not considered a risk to human health or food safety. There have been rare cases of FMD in humans, usually have particularly close contact with infected animals. The human cases has only resulted in “mild symptoms”, according to the department.