As foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) approaches the Polish-Lithuanian border, vehicle disinfection systems are planned to be introduced at the Latvian-Lithuanian border, said Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze (Union of Greens and Farmers – ZZS).
He mentioned that the decision to implement such safety measures at the Latvian-Lithuanian border to limit the spread of the disease was made in consultation with Māris Balodis, Director General of the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD).
INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY THE PVD INDICATES THAT THIS YEAR THE DISEASE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN GERMANY, HUNGARY, AND SLOVAKIA.
As previously reported, FMD is an acute and highly contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. It is characterized by fever and ulcerative inflammation on the tongue, oral mucosa, areas around the hooves, between the hooves, and on the skin of the udder.
FMD is classified as a transboundary animal disease that can spread rapidly and widely, seriously impacting the livestock industry and disrupting both regional and international trade in animals and animal products, thus causing significant economic losses.
FMD does not pose a threat to human health and does not affect the safety of food products. The last time FMD was detected in Latvia was in 1987.