In mid-January, Germany reported its first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in close to 40 years. The outbreak was detected in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin in the Brandenburg region.
Three infected buffalo died, and the remaining 11 animals were euthanized to contain the disease, according to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. The facility was placed under quarantine and all animals within a 1 km radius were culled. The exact route of entry remains unclear, although the virus strain is commonly found in the Middle East and Asia. The German agriculture ministry said on Jan. 15 that meat and dairy exports to the European Union are expected to continue, according to a Reuters report.
