Slovakia Faces First Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak in 50 Years

Slovakia has been thrust into emergency mode after confirming its first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in half a century. The disease, notorious for its devastating impact on livestock, was identified in three cattle farms located near the Slovak-Hungarian border, prompting swift containment efforts from national authorities.

The cases were confirmed on March 21 by the National Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and involved farms in Medveďov, Ňárad, and Baka in the Dunajská Streda district. More than 2,700 animals — including dairy cows, calves, heifers, and bulls — have been affected.

This outbreak makes Slovakia the third European Union country to report FMD in 2025, following earlier cases in Germany and Hungary. Germany’s incident in January involved a herd of water buffalo, while Hungary detected the virus in a cattle farm in Kisbajcs — not far from the current Slovak cases.

What Is Foot-and-Mouth Disease?

FMD is a highly infectious viral illness that primarily targets cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer. Though harmless to humans, the virus causes severe symptoms in animals, including fever, blisters in the mouth and on the hooves, excessive drooling, and lameness. It spreads rapidly through direct contact, airborne particles, and contaminated surfaces like clothing, tools, or vehicles.

Outbreaks are usually met with drastic measures, including culling of herds and strict movement restrictions, due to the disease’s potential to paralyze meat and dairy industries.

Emergency Measures Deployed

In response to the outbreak, the Slovak Ministry of Defense delivered 10,000 doses of FMD vaccine to the affected areas late Friday night. While vaccination can help reduce the spread of the virus, all vaccinated animals are still slated for culling — a painful but necessary step to prevent broader transmission.

Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč confirmed that the vaccination and culling process began immediately and will continue throughout the containment period. Vaccine supplies were imported from Germany, highlighting the urgency and cross-border collaboration involved.

National and Regional Restrictions

To limit further spread, Chief Veterinary Officer Martin Chudý has ordered a set of aggressive containment measures. These include:

Culling of animals within a three-kilometre radius of the outbreak.
Restricted access to forests in Komárno and Dunajská Streda districts.
Animal transport limitations at key border crossings like Medveďov, Komárno, and Bratislava-Rajka.
Disinfection points on local roads in affected districts.
Nationwide bans on livestock markets, animal auctions, and zoo operations.
Movement freeze on susceptible animals between farms, even to slaughterhouses.

The Czech Republic has already responded by reinstating border checks with Slovakia and halting livestock imports as a precautionary measure.

A Wake-Up Call for Europe

The return of FMD to Central Europe after such a long hiatus is rattling regional governments. Prior to this year, Europe had not seen a case since 2011 in Bulgaria. Outside the EU, the disease remains endemic in several regions including Turkey, the Middle East, parts of Asia, and South America.

South Korea also recently reported its first outbreak in nearly two years, reinforcing fears of a global resurgence.

The Road Ahead

With culling underway and vaccination efforts in motion, Slovakia hopes to bring the outbreak under control before it spreads further. The European Commission has been notified and is likely to support Slovakia’s containment efforts both logistically and financially.

This outbreak serves as a stark reminder of how quickly dormant diseases can return — and how vital rapid response and cross-border coordination are in safeguarding the continent’s food supply and rural economies.

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