Federal Army ends epidemic operation in Slovakia after 11 days!

Federal Army ends epidemic operation in Slovakia after 11 days!

On April 7, 2025, the deployment of the “Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit” (AFDRU) in Slovakia, which was dedicated to combating foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), was ended early after eleven days. The mission was originally scheduled for March 26 for a period of 21 days. The early termination took place because the Slovak authorities did not need any further support, according to press officer Horst Dauerböck. This decision brought a pleasant turn to the tense situation in the Dunajská Streda region, near the Hungarian border.

A total of 53 soldiers were deployed to support the local emergency services in order to slow the spread of the disease. During the operation, soldiers made remarkable progress, decontaminating 6,400 large vehicles. Around 25,000 liters of chemicals and 250,000 liters of water were used for this.

Mission details

The main task of the AFDRU was the decontamination of vehicles at the Rajka border crossing between Hungary and Slovakia. The soldiers worked around the clock in shifts and were able to clean up to 25 vehicles an hour. With a consumption of around 1,000 liters of water and 100 liters of chemicals per hour, they demonstrated efficiency and commitment in their work. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner thanked the soldiers for their indispensable commitment and said they had made a decisive contribution to slowing the spread of the disease.

After completing the mission, the soldiers are on the way back to their home base in the NBC defense center in Korneuburg. There they will maintain their equipment and prepare for future missions. The AFDRU deployment was activated and co-financed under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, underlining international cooperation in crisis situations.

The AFDRU is a special unit of the Austrian Armed Forces that specializes in disaster relief operations, technical assistance, decontamination measures and humanitarian support. Your commitment demonstrates the willingness and ability to respond immediately to challenges that may arise in different regions.

5min.at reports that the soldiers returned to Korneuburg late on Monday afternoon, while operational measures in Slovakia were successfully completed. This represents another successful operation by the AFDRU overall, highlighting the importance of military support in civilian crisis situations.

Krone.at added that the soldiers contributed significantly to security in the region during their deployment and provided strong support to the local authorities. A clear sign of solidarity in times of need, which also reflects the values ​​of the EU.

OTS.at emphasizes that the soldiers deployed have made a significant contribution to containing foot-and-mouth disease through their tireless commitment and professionalism.