Takac: All Foot-and-mouth Disease Outbreaks Eliminated, No New Cases Detected

Bratislava, April 14 (TASR) - As of Monday noon, the elimination of existing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, including the Dolny Stal farm, has been completed and no new outbreak has been detected thus far, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) announced at a press briefing in the company of representatives from the Interior Ministry, Defence Ministry and the country's security and rescue forces. A total of 1,842 unregistered illicit livestock holdings have been reported to veterinarians. “Unfortunately, various measures issued by the General Director of the State Veterinary and Food Administration (SVPS) to protect against the foot-and-mouth disease virus have been violated. Therefore, starting today, a monitoring and oversight center is being established here in [Bratislava borough of] Vajnory, which will participate in surveillance in, but not limited to, the outbreak areas in Zahorie and around Dunajská Streda,” Takac explained. The minister also reported that by around noon on Monday, the depopulation of all infected herds — including those in contact with infected animals — had been completed. “At the moment, we have no confirmed new positive cases, nor do we anticipate any suspected potential positive herds,” Takac clarified, adding that 1,842 unregistered livestock holdings have been reported to authorities across Slovakia. The agriculture minister once again urged farmers and livestock keepers to follow the mandated veterinary measures. “We are now entering a critical two- to three-week period. If no new outbreaks emerge, I dare say that after three weeks we’ll be able to say the situation has been fully managed,” the minister added. mf