SHIC actively monitors global swine diseases as part of its mission to enhance swine health through the identification and mitigation of emerging disease threats. On January 10, 2025, Germany confirmed its first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) since 1988. The outbreak was detected in a herd of water buffalo in the Märkisch-Oderland district of Brandenburg, near Berlin. As part of the SHIC Global Swine Disease Monitoring Reports, the team at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) has prepared this summary of the current FMDV situation in Germany.
Within the affected water buffalo herd, three infected buffalo died and the remaining herd of 11 animals was euthanized to contain the disease. Authorities have implemented strict control measures, including the establishment of a 3 km exclusion zone and a 10 km monitoring zone, and are conducting investigations to determine the source and route of the infection. Immediate actions included culling all susceptible animals within a 1 km radius, including a farm with 170 pigs and another location with 55 goats, sheep, and three cattle as a precaution. A transport ban for livestock was imposed across Brandenburg and later extended to Berlin, lasting at least 72 hours. Sampling of animals within a 3 km radius is ongoing to assess the outbreak’s spread.
The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) identified the FMD virus as serotype O, a strain commonly found in the Middle East and Asia. Although, the exact route of entry remains unclear. The affected farm operates organically, using only its own hay for feed. The outbreak highlights the ongoing risk of FMD introduction into the EU through illegal trade and travel-related movement of animal products from FMD-endemic regions. Germany, previously recognized as FMD-free along with the EU, has lost its status, triggering trade restrictions. Thus, South Korea banned the import of German pork and quarantined 360 tons imported since December 27 for testing. At the Green Week agricultural fair in Berlin, cloven-hoofed animals were excluded to mitigate risks. In the Netherlands, 125 farms that recently imported calves from Brandenburg were ordered to suspend operations, and a nationwide standstill on calf transport was implemented until January 19. Veal calf imports from Brandenburg were also banned. However, export to countries within the European Union’s single market is still possible for products that originate outside the restricted zones, under the principle of regionalization.
Water buffalo, introduced to Germany in the 1990s, are farmed for milk, meat, and grassland maintenance. The animals were part of a herd in Brandenburg, a region now under extensive surveillance. All cloven-hoofed animals in the vicinity are being tested to evaluate the spread of the disease and to inform further actions, including potential vaccination.
Germany’s FMD antigen bank, established for emergencies like this, holds serotype-specific vaccines and can produce them within days. However, vaccines must be tailored precisely to the specific serotype, as vaccines against other strains are ineffective. FMD, which affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, is highly contagious and causes severe symptoms, including fever, painful blisters, reduced milk production, and significant economic losses for farmers. Though FMD poses no direct health risk to humans, they can act as carriers of the virus via contaminated clothing, shoes, or equipment.
Past outbreaks in Europe, such as those in the UK (2007) and Bulgaria (2011), resulted in extensive culling of livestock to control the disease. The current outbreak underscores the importance of biosecurity measures, rapid response, and vigilance to protect agriculture and livestock from this economically devastating disease.
Summary of the incursion of new FMDV strains into new territories (2022 to date):
2022
Egypt: South American strains A/EURO-SA, and O/EURO-SA, were isolated from a batch of Egyptian samples tested by the World Reference Laboratory (WRLFMD).
Libya: FMD virus O/EA-3, a strain from East Africa was detected.
Iraq: FMD virus SAT2/XIV, closely related to viruses from Ethiopia was detected. It was observed to cause more severe clinical disease.
Jordan: FMD virus SAT2/XIV, closely related to viruses from Ethiopia was reported in the country.
Türkiye: FMD virus SAT2/XIV, was reported for the first time.
2023
Qatar: FMDV SAT1/I topotype, a virus with close sequence identity to a virus from Kenya was reported for the first time.
Algeria: Virus of the SAT2 topotype (SAT2/V) detected for the first time. Viruses from this lineage were last found in Ghana (1991), Togo (1990) and Ivory Coast (1990).
2024
Libya: A new incursion of FMDV O/EA-3 which is endemic to East Africa
Türkiye: Re-emergence of a virus strain originally from Iran, FMDV A/ASIA/Iran-05FAR-11
2025
Germany: Recurrence of FMD after 37 years. The National Reference Laboratory at the FLI confirmed the virus Serotype as type O, although the virus strain, origin, and route of entry into Germany are yet to be determined.
References
Germany confirms first case of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years
Germany Reports Foot-and-mouth Disease In Water Buffalo
Foot-and-mouth disease detected in Brandenburg
FMD outbreak in Brandenburg: serotype O detected
FMD Germany: pig industry holds its breath
FMD Reference Laboratory reports
Germany Races To Contain Foot-and-mouth Outbreak Amid Export Fears https://www.barrons.com/news/germany-races-to-contain-foot-and-mouth-outbreak-amid-export-fears-17ea20e0
German agri minister meets sector stakeholders on foot-and-mouth
https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/german-agri-minister-meets-sector-stakeholders-on-foot-and-mouth/
Foot and mouth outbreak halts German pork exports to GB https://nationalpigassociation.co.uk/foot-and-mouth-outbreak-halts-german-pork-exports-to-gb/
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