Bundesheer ready for emergencies: mouth and claw disease threaten in Austria!

Bundesheer ready for emergencies: mouth and claw disease threaten in Austria!

Korneuburg, Österreich - The Bundesheer Austria has made extensive preparations to take action against the mouth and claw disease (MKS) in an emergency. In view of the alarming spread of the plague in Slovakia and Hungary, the commitment of the troops is of crucial importance. Colonel Jürgen Schlechter from the ABC defense center in Korneuburg confirmed the operational readiness and explained that 53 soldiers of the "Austrian Forces Disces Relief Unit" (Afdru) are currently active in Slovakia. These soldiers support primarily in disinfecting vehicles on the border with Hungary. No return of the troops is necessary because there are enough reserves available in Austria.

The protective measures in Austria include the closure of the border crossings. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, vehicles must be disinfected before leaving affected courtyards. The Federal Army has a total of eleven decontamination vehicles, two of them currently provide important support in Slovakia. Since the weekend, soldiers have also been in the assistance in Burgenland.

logistical challenges and possible operations

In the event of a possible spread of the MKS, the emergency services face logistical challenges. This applies in particular to the need to shrug all animals of an affected company in a very short time. If there are confirmed MKS cases, further forces could quickly be sent to the affected cattle companies. The ability of the Federal Army to drive to every affected courtyard or stable is crucial for combating the disease.

The context for the spread of the MKS is underlined by a current case in Brandenburg. On January 10, 2025, a case of MKS was confirmed in water buffalos. As a result, extensive examinations have been initiated, but so far there have been no further cases. MKS has not shown itself in Germany since 1988, and the federal states are responsible for combating animal diseases.

regulatory measures in Germany

In Brandenburg, blocking zones were set up in which the transport of animals and their products are prohibited. In addition, a "stand still" for claws was arranged to prevent the spread of the plague. This package of measures was lifted on January 17, 2025 in Brandenburg and on January 27, 2025 in Berlin. Technical advice from the federal-state Task Force for animal disease control has been running since the outbreak, and the responsible committee in the Bundestag held a special meeting on January 15, 2025. On February 11, 2025, the EU Commission determined the further procedure with regard to animal-healthy restricted zones.

according to the BMEL could have serious animal health and socio -economic effects. At the beginning of March 2025, the plague in a cattle business in northwestern Hungary was detected, which marked the first outbreak in Hungary since 1973. There is currently no evidence of a connection between the outbreaks in Brandenburg and Hungary.

The situation requires close cooperation between the authorities in the affected regions and the quick reaction of units to control the spread and to secure animal health.