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The existing import ban on fresh meat, raw milk, venison, and hunting trophies, among other things, is thus extended to straw and plant-based animal feed from affected countries. All livestock farms are also “required to implement enhanced biosecurity measures, including cleaning and disinfecting vehicles.”
Farms are obliged to keep records of visitors from outside the farm. Animals may not be moved out of the extended restricted zone. An exception is only permitted with a negative test result and official approval. “State authorities may stop and disinfect vehicles,” the ordinance continues. The measures will initially apply until 20 May 2025, parallel to the current border closures.
The Ministry of Health emphasized in its press release that all animals from eight farms were tested in the surveillance zone. Testing will be repeated weekly until May 20, corresponding to the virus’s incubation period. So far, 104 farms have been visited and sampled in the extended restriction zone; all samples analyzed so far have been negative. Further samples are still being analyzed. Within the past week, there have been four reports of suspected cases within the zones; all samples were negative.
The new measures in detail
– The existing import ban on fresh meat, raw milk, manure, dung, game, and hunting trophies is being extended to include straw and plant-based animal feed from affected countries.
– All livestock farms must implement enhanced biosecurity measures, including measures to clean and disinfect vehicles.
– Farms must keep records of visits by people from outside the farm. In the event of an outbreak, this helps the authorities to quickly trace the chain of infection.
– Transport companies, including those involved in milk collection, are obliged to comply with the highest hygiene standards.
– Animals may not be moved out of the extended restricted zone. An exception is only permitted with a negative test result and official approval (EU requirement).
– State authorities can stop and disinfect vehicles.
– The measures will initially apply until May 20, 2025, parallel to the current border closures.
Existing measures remain in place in full
– Ban imports of live animals of susceptible species, such as fresh meat, raw milk, manure, dung, game, and hunting trophies from Hungary and Slovakia.
– Establishment of restricted zones in affected areas in Austria.
– In the surveillance zone, all businesses are sampled on a weekly basis.
– In the extended restricted zone, risk-based tests are carried out according to a sampling plan.
– There will be a ban on markets, animal shows, and similar events in both zones.
– Complete ban on hunting in the surveillance zone.
Army assistance mission
On Friday evening, the Austrian Armed Forces began an assistance mission in Burgenland to ward off the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) spreading in Hungary and Slovakia. The provincial government had previously requested this. “The first reconnaissance teams are on their way to the operational area,” announced the Burgenland military command in a press release on Friday evening. One of their tasks will be to operate epidemic carpets at the unclosed border crossings.
The assistance mission was requested to support the health authorities in the districts of Neusiedl, Eisenstadt Umgebung, Mattersburg, and Oberpullendorf. “Protecting our population and animals is now a top priority. Our soldiers are making an indispensable contribution to preventing foot-and-mouth disease in Austria and protecting our agriculture,” emphasized Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP). There are still 50 soldiers from the Austrian Armed Forces deployed in Slovakia to support the health authorities there.
The Burgenland provincial government announced on Friday that it would request the assistance of the Austrian Armed Forces for disinfection measures at the Kittsee (A6) and Nickelsdorf (A4) highway border crossings. On Saturday night, 21 small border crossings in Burgenland will be completely closed.
Closure until May 20
The 21 small border crossings will be closed until May 20, 2025. However, it will still be possible to cross the border at the major crossings at Kittsee-Jarovce, Nickelsdorf-Hegyeshalom 1 and 2, Pamhagen-Fertöd, Klingenbach-Sopron, St. Margarethen-Sopronköhida, Rattersdorf-Köszeg, and all crossings in the districts of Oberwart, Güssing, and Jennersdorf.
At the open border crossings in the districts of Neusiedl am See, Eisenstadt Umgebung, and Oberpullendorf – this is the extended restricted zone – epidemic carpets were set up on Friday by the state’s building directorate. These are intended to prevent the introduction of the virus by incoming motor vehicles. These areas, on which disinfectant is applied, are then passed through by all vehicles from Hungary or Slovakia. The Austrian Armed Forces will assist with the disinfection measures at the Kittsee and Nickelsdorf highway border crossings. In addition, the state is in coordination with Asfinag, it was also said. An appeal was also made to refrain from unnecessary journeys across the borders to Hungary and Slovakia at present.
In Lower Austria, in addition to the ferry in Angern an der March and the Schloss Hof cycle bridge, the Marchegg pedestrian and cycle bridge is also closed. The provincial police directorate will carry out security measures and checks. In contrast to border controls at open crossings, closed border crossings would be a less personnel-intensive measure and carried out “with varying degrees of strength and intensity,” according to St. Pölten.
- source: oe24.at/picture:
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