Takac: Foot-and-mouth Confirmed at Another Farm, This Time in Zahorie Area

Bratislava, March 30 (TASR) - The presence of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at another farm, this time in the district of Malacky (Bratislava region) in the Zahorie area, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) said before the meeting of the central crisis management team on Sunday evening. According to Takac, there are over 3,500 pieces of cattle on the farm. "Various regular tests will be carried out throughout the district," said the minister. Other farms of a Danish company that runs the facility have also been closed. "Vaccination of animals at this farm is starting at the moment and some equipment will be moved to it at about lunchtime tomorrow in order to depopulate it as quickly as possible," he added. The minister mentioned that this farm had contact with a farm in the Hungarian village of Level, where the disease also broke out. At the same time, Takac called for restraint in spreading unverified information. The presence of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at livestock farms in five villages in southern and western Slovakia so far. In addition to the latest case, it was in the villages of Medvedov, Narad, Baka and Luc na Ostrove. The first three outbreaks were detected last Friday (March 21) and the fourth one this Tuesday (March 25). The incubation period of the disease is seven to 14 days. ko