In January, foot-and-mouth disease was detected in a small herd of water buffalo in Germany. The fact that there have been two outbreaks within the EU in such a short time is "very remarkable", according to state epizootologist Karl Ståhl.
The outbreak in Germany was very unexpected, served as a wake-up call for the entire EU, and reminded us that foot-and-mouth disease can emerge unexpectedly even in Sweden, he writes in a comment on the Swedish National Veterinary Institute's (SVA's) website.
The virus detected in Hungary is not related to the one detected in Germany, and there is no common source of infection.
For Swedish animal owners, it is now important to be vigilant, according to Karl Ståhl, since early detection is crucial for limiting the spread.
