Animal disease is spreading: exclusion zones set up in Berlin!

In Brandenburg, a case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in water buffaloes in the Märkisch-Oderland district on January 10, 2025. This has a direct impact on Berlin, as several small animal farms in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district are located within two exclusion zones. Loud World Exclusion zones were set up around the affected farm in Hönow to prevent the animal infectious disease from spreading.

Due to the incident, the health authorities have set up an animal disease crisis team under the direction of State Secretary Esther Uleer in the Senate Department for Consumer Protection. In addition, the state crisis center for animal diseases was activated. The exact numbers of affected businesses are not yet known, but it is assumed that there are a maximum of 14 animal farms in Berlin with up to 120 cloven-hoofed animals, including goats, sheep and pigs, as also reported by BMEL reported.

Overview of foot and mouth disease

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection that can affect cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, as well as zoo and wild animals. This epidemic has not occurred in Germany since 1988. The virus is harmless to humans, but all animals in affected livestock must be killed as a precaution to avoid its spread. Epidemiological investigations to clarify the cause of the epidemic and to identify possible contact farms are already underway.

The relevant authorities have established exclusion zones around the affected establishments, with a ban on the movement of susceptible animals and their products unless official authorization is granted.