Marchetti criticizes FPÖ: Bundesheer protects Austria from epidemics!

Marchetti criticizes FPÖ: Bundesheer protects Austria from epidemics!

Burgenland, Österreich - On April 7, 2025, Nico Marchetti, the general secretary of the People's Party, criticizes the FPÖ (Freedom Party Austria) for their allegations against the Austrian Armed Forces. According to Marchetti, soldiers of the Federal Army were sent to the Burgenland border on the same day when the responsible bodies were requested. Marchetti decisively rejects these allegations of the FPÖ that the Bundesheer reacted late and calls the attitude of the FPÖ a "small -minded fortress mentality". He emphasizes that the use of the Federal Army in Slovakia will benefit both Austria and the neighbors.

A central point of Marchetti's argument is the early term of fighting animal diseases in order to keep the spread far from Austria. This topic is particularly relevant in view of the current situation in Germany, where the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, met with representatives of the agricultural and food industry to discuss the economic consequences of the outbreak of mouth and claw disease (MKS). Özdemir reported on the state of negotiations with third countries to normalize trade relationships. The aim is to minimize the economic effects of the outbreak on agriculture and nutritional industry.

the MKS and their effects

The mouth and claw disease, a high-containing viral infection in claws, was last registered on January 10, 2025 at water buffalos in Brandenburg. Despite the challenges, the world organization for animal health (Woah) Germany has largely recognized Germany as free of MKS, but it remains a small containment zone that is still restricted. An application for the classification of this zone as MKS-Frei is to be made in early April 2025. MKS has not appeared in Germany since 1988, which facilitates future control and prevention.

The fight against animal diseases in the European Union is subject to a clear categorization and different measures, which are based on the risk to animals and people as well as the economic effects. The cornerstones of this control lie in prevention, early detection and intervention. The measures include, for example, cleaning and disinfection of stables, the restriction of the transport of animals and the minimization of the contact between different animal species.

measures to combat animal disease

In the event of an outbreak, immediate measures are required. This includes the detection of the outbreak and the subsequent elimination of the pathogens. The veterinary office takes on central tasks such as the blocking of the affected animal population, the secretion of diseased animals and, in an emergency, the killing and the improper elimination of the animals. Due to these complex processes, it is also pointed out to inter -municipal cooperation and support from specialist staff in order to compensate for possible lack of personnel in veterinary offices.