Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in Brandenburg Sparks Testing and Restrictions

Authorities confirm no new cases near Hönow outbreak, but strict containment measures remain in place as testing continues.

Twelve water buffalo in Hönow, Brandenburg, tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD); all infected animals have been culled.
No additional cases have been detected within a 1-kilometer radius or in surrounding farms, according to initial testing by state and federal laboratories.
Containment measures include a 3-kilometer protection zone and a 10-kilometer surveillance zone, with restrictions on animal movement and milk distribution in affected areas.
Farmers in the surveillance zone are incurring significant losses, with tens of thousands of liters of milk discarded daily and international trade restrictions impacting meat exports.
Experts warn the virus thrives in cold, damp conditions, and further testing is ongoing to determine if the outbreak has spread beyond the initial site.