Tests for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Austria Negative So Far

According to the Ministry of Health, over 1,000 samples have been taken from farms in Lower Austria and Burgenland since mid-week, as reported by ORF on Sunday. No further test results are pending. A decision on the next steps is expected on Monday. The established restricted zones are likely to remain in place for a few more days.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Restricted Zones in Austria

According to Lower Austria's state veterinary director Christina Riedl, no new cases have been reported in Hungary and Slovakia over the weekend. In Burgenland, the district of Neusiedl am See considers the four municipalities of Deutsch Jahrndorf, Mönchhof, Nickelsdorf, and Halbturn as a surveillance zone. A restricted zone extends over the districts of Neusiedl am See, Eisenstadt-Umgebung including Eisenstadt and Rust, Mattersburg, and Oberpullendorf. In Lower Austria, the district of Gänserndorf as well as municipalities in the districts of Bruck an der Leitha, Mistelbach, and Wiener Neustadt are included.

These restricted zones particularly affect agricultural businesses with certain animal species and include measures such as enhanced hygiene rules, operational controls, and restrictions on livestock transport. An import ban is in place for live animals of susceptible species such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, as well as for fresh meat and raw milk, slurry and manure, and for hunting trophies and game meat from the two affected countries. Additionally, targeted controls in border areas have been announced. There are no restrictions for humans, and according to the ministry, there is no health risk for the population. The last cases of the disease in Austria were recorded in 1981.

(APA/red)

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