KDH: Authorities Didn't Intervene in Time to Prevent Entry of Infection

Bratislava, March 21 (TASR) - The responsible authorities didn't intervene in time to prevent the disease from entering Slovakia, opposition MP for the Christian Democrats (KDH) and member of the parliamentary committee on agriculture and environment Marian Caucik said on Friday in response to the information that the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Slovakia. "This is an alarming situation and requires an immediate and consistent response by the state authorities, which will emphasise the protection of animal health, the financial interests of breeders and the safety of consumers," stressed Caucik. The State Veterinary and Food Administration should have acted decisively and taken tough measures, especially at the border with Hungary, where the disease was confirmed. "The quarantine measures taken so far in eight municipalities in the districts of Dunajska Streda [Trnava region] and Komarno [Nitra region] have clearly been ineffective. Poland set up decontamination gates and disinfection fords on its borders immediately, despite the fact that it is not neighbouring Hungary," he stressed. am