Farmers in turmoil: FPÖ criticizes government for MKS management!

Farmers in turmoil: FPÖ criticizes government for MKS management!

Schöneiche, Deutschland - The pressure on the Austrian federal government is growing, while farmers are increasingly concerned in view of the mouth and claw disease (MKS). The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has expressed sharp criticism of the government and accuses its failure of protecting against the plague. Agricultural spokesman Peter Schmiedlechner emphasizes that the government needed almost a month to react to the outbreak of the disease in Hungary. While the neighboring countries of Hungary and Slovakia now have the virus under control, Austria continues to sit in a critical phase.

The FPÖ in particular criticizes the decision to loosen import restrictions and describes this as "irresponsible". The farmers: inside feel abandoned because there is a lack of clear instructions for the championship of affected animals and technical protective measures. Schmiedlechner describes the inactivity of the government as "pets" and "grossly negligent". So far there has been no statement by the Federal Government on the allegations that are articulated loudly from the FPÖ.

The threat from the mouth and claw disease

The mouth and claw disease, a high-containing viral disease, not only affects cattle and pigs, but can also infect other pairs such as deer, goats and sheep. Horses are not affected by the disease, but people are rare. In Germany there was a MKS outbreak last in 1988 in Lower Saxony, while the last outbreak reported by the EU took place in Bulgaria in 2011. A new outbreak in Brandenburg is now causing concern: Here, a stock of water buffalos in the Märkisch-Oderland district was affected. According to reports, other animals must also be killed due to precautionary measures, which could make the economic effects considerable.

The situation remains tense for the affected farmers in Germany and Austria. The farm in Schöneiche, which hay moved from the company that was initially affected in Hönow, is considered a contact inventory. Although no sick animals have been found there, 55 goats, sheep and three cattle are culled as a precaution in the sense of prevention. Samples are removed, but a blocking circuit is only drawn when an outbreak is found on the farm.

outlook and precautionary measures

The epidemiological situation in Hungary and Slovakia continues to observe. The increasing cases and the reaction to this put the crisis management of the Austrian government to the test. Experts warn that a too late reaction could be extremely risky in view of the incubation period of several weeks. The pressure on the government is not only increasing on the part of the FPÖ, but also from the farmers themselves, who demand clear and effective measures in dealing with the mouth and claw disease.