SHIC Update on Recent Detection of FMDV Serotype O in Germany

SHIC actively monitors global swine diseases as part of its mission to enhance swine health through the identification and mitigation of emerging disease threats. On January 10, 2025, Germany confirmed its first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) since 1988. The outbreak was detected in a herd of water buffalo in the Märkisch-Oderland district of Brandenburg, near Berlin. As part of the SHIC Global Swine Disease Monitoring Reports, the team at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) has prepared this summary of the current FMDV situation in Germany.

Within the affected water buffalo herd, three infected buffalo died and the remaining herd of 11 animals was euthanized to contain the disease. Authorities have implemented strict control measures, including the establishment of a 3 km exclusion zone and a 10 km monitoring zone, and are conducting investigations to determine the source and route of the infection. Immediate actions included culling all susceptible animals within a 1 km radius, including a farm with 170 pigs and another location with 55 goats, sheep, and three cattle as a precaution. A transport ban for livestock was imposed across Brandenburg and later extended to Berlin, lasting at least 72 hours. Sampling of animals within a 3 km radius is ongoing to assess the outbreak’s spread.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) identified the FMD virus as serotype O, a strain commonly found in the Middle East and Asia. Although, the exact route of entry remains unclear. The affected farm operates organically, using only its own hay for feed. The outbreak highlights the ongoing risk of FMD introduction into the EU through illegal trade and travel-related movement of animal products from FMD-endemic regions. Germany, previously recognized as FMD-free along with the EU, has lost its status, triggering trade restrictions. Thus, South Korea banned the import of German pork and quarantined 360 tons imported since December 27 for testing. At the Green Week agricultural fair in Berlin, cloven-hoofed animals were excluded to mitigate risks. In the Netherlands, 125 farms that recently imported calves from Brandenburg were ordered to suspend operations, and a nationwide standstill on calf transport was implemented until January 19. Veal calf imports from Brandenburg were also banned. However, export to countries within the European Union’s single market is still possible for products that originate outside the restricted zones, under the principle of regionalization.