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In Slovakia and Hungary, thousands of animals – mainly cattle – are currently being slaughtered due to individual cases of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease. Drastic measures could now also be taken at Austria’s borders to prevent the spread of the disease.
Particularly alarming: an outbreak in Hungary is only a few kilometers away from Nickelsdorf. A cattle farmer in Burgenland already sounded the alarm at the weekend – his herd grazes in Hanság, a potential risk area.
The virus is extremely contagious and spreads not only through the air, but also through clothing, vehicles and more. On Monday, the first measures were taken: the access road to Hanság was closed. But experts warn: this is not yet an all-clear!
Is the border closure coming now?
In the district of Neusiedl, the small border crossings in Andau, Deutsch Jahrndorf, Halbturn and the old crossing in Nickelsdorf could close. Only the large crossings in Kittsee and Nickelsdorf are to remain open – with additional protective measures such as epidemic carpets.
Memories of 1973
The last major foot-and-mouth epidemic in Burgenland may have occurred almost 50 years ago, but the images from back then are still present: in Lower Austria and Burgenland alone, almost 80,000 animals were slaughtered in 1973.
- source: oe24.at/picture: canva.com
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