Slovakia has introduced a state of emergency due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Starting from 1:00 PM on Tuesday, March 25, the measure is in effect across the entire country.
The first cases were found on March 21 in the south, in the Dunajská Streda district. The virus was found on 4 farms with 13,000 head of cattle, which is more than 10% of the total livestock in Slovakia. The authorities are already taking action: free grazing of cattle has been banned in the country, zoos have been closed (the Bratislava zoo is currently not operating), access to forests in the southern and central regions has been restricted, and cattle are being culled on farms.
A law was also approved that allows the Ministry of Transport to restrict civilian flights to prevent the spread of animal diseases that threaten product safety. Foot-and-mouth disease does not threaten people, but it is a deadly disease for animals, so affected herds are completely destroyed.
The last outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Slovakia was over 50 years ago. This year, the virus came from Hungary and Germany
