The National Hog Farmer recently broke the news that Germany has confirmed its first Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in over four decades, detected in a herd of water buffalo. Although pigs are not currently affected, FMD is a highly contagious disease that spreads rapidly among cloven-hoofed animals, often leading to widespread culling. The development raises concerns about potential border closures and restrictions on export markets, notably as Germany houses the third-largest sow population in the European Union. While hogs remain unaffected, the situation warrants close monitoring, given the potential implications for the global livestock industry.
World-renowned Dr. John Carr, who works from Australia, expressed his concerns regarding the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) case in Germany, particularly in a herd of water buffalo.
“While herds of water buffalo do not roam the empty plains of the Rhineland, this seems to be a case of poor quarantine measures,” Dr. Carr noted. He criticized the rewilding efforts by environmentalists, stating, “Animals not native to the region are introduced without proper discussion with the farming community, often leading to unintended consequences.”
Dr. Carr raised several unanswered questions, including whether the case involves the virus or antibodies, the timeline of the animals’ entry into Germany, and the lack of clarity surrounding the deaths. “Three out of eleven animals died, but FMD does not typically kill adult water buffalo. They must have died for another reason,” he remarked, expressing disappointment over the lack of detailed information.
He highlighted the potential impact on Germany’s pork exports, which are already struggling, particularly with the loss of the Korean market. “This could be disastrous for Germany’s efforts to regain export access,” Dr. Carr warned. However, he expressed cautious optimism, explaining that FMD spreads locally among cattle and, if this is the original case, authorities should contain it quickly. “It might be nothing, but we’ll know more in the coming weeks,” he said.
Dr. John Carr received an update from a contact in Germany working on the ground amid the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. The contact reported visiting a farm within the affected zone, where strict containment measures are in place. “All cloven-hoofed animals within a 3-kilometre radius are being culled,” the contact stated, adding that their role involved euthanizing pregnant sheep and goats using barbiturates.
Samples, including blood and nasal swabs, were collected from all euthanized animals, but no clinical signs of FMD were observed. The virus, identified as O type, was isolated from a moribund water buffalo. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Germany’s leading animal health authority, coordinates ongoing epidemiological investigations.
The contact assured that further updates would follow as new results become available, underscoring the urgency and precision of the response to prevent the spread of FMD. •
— By Harry Siemens