Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Europe are associated with viruses from Turkey and Pakistan
Source: Dairynews.today
Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks recorded in 2025 in a number of European countries are associated with the genetic lines of the virus that previously circulated in Turkey and Pakistan.
This was announced by representatives of the European Commission at a webinar with the participation of experts from the Rosselkhoznadzor and the Federal State Budgetary Institution VNIIZH.
According to information provided by European experts, the virus detected in Germany belongs to the O/ME-SA/SA-2018 lineage, which was previously widespread in Turkey. Isolates from Slovakia and Hungary belong to the O/ME-SA/Panasia2/ANT-10 subline, which circulated in Pakistan in 2017-2018. This indicates various channels for the introduction of the disease into the territory of the EU.
At the webinar, the countries with reported outbreaks — Germany, Hungary and Slovakia — presented reviews of the current epizootic situation. Germany has mostly regained its FMD-free status, with the exception of the restricted area near Berlin. In Slovakia and Hungary, standard measures have been applied: surveillance zones have been established, emergency vaccination of susceptible animals in foci, subsequent slaughter and restrictions on the movement of live livestock.
Additionally, the EU has decided to expand the restriction zones beyond the standard 3 and 10 km. The new zone will cover all ten identified foci and will be classified as a containment zone in accordance with Chapter 8.8 of the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
According to information provided by European experts, the virus detected in Germany belongs to the O/ME-SA/SA-2018 lineage, which was previously widespread in Turkey. Isolates from Slovakia and Hungary belong to the O/ME-SA/Panasia2/ANT-10 subline, which circulated in Pakistan in 2017-2018. This indicates various channels for the introduction of the disease into the territory of the EU.
At the webinar, the countries with reported outbreaks — Germany, Hungary and Slovakia — presented reviews of the current epizootic situation. Germany has mostly regained its FMD-free status, with the exception of the restricted area near Berlin. In Slovakia and Hungary, standard measures have been applied: surveillance zones have been established, emergency vaccination of susceptible animals in foci, subsequent slaughter and restrictions on the movement of live livestock.
Additionally, the EU has decided to expand the restriction zones beyond the standard 3 and 10 km. The new zone will cover all ten identified foci and will be classified as a containment zone in accordance with Chapter 8.8 of the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
