By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-04-05 14:50:59 | Updated at 2025-04-06 05:35:14
15 hours ago
Slovakia has implemented emergency measures following an "outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease", Bratislava has announced.
The measures include increased vehicle inspection, mainly targeting freight vehicles crossing the Czech, Austrian, Hungarian and Polish borders.
The Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic has been working closely with veterinary authorities to manage the situation.
Officials stated: "The coordination of the relevant authorities and the deployed forces and resources is ensured by the Central Crisis Staff, chaired by the Minister of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, Matúš Šutaj Eštok."
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alerted Britons of the news.
The FCDO said: "People are advised to avoid visiting farms and forests in affected areas and to follow strict hygiene measures to prevent the disease from spreading."
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, and pigs.
The foot-and-mouth disease epidemic has been confirmed in four municipalities within the Dunajská Streda district in Slovakia.
According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the disease causes fever and blister-like sores in the affected animals' mouths, feet, and sometimes teats.
As a highly contagious viral disease, it poses a significant threat to livestock populations in the region.
The Slovak Republic has described these measures as "necessary" to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease throughout their territory.
The emergency measures implemented on March 25 remain in full effect across the country's borders and affected regions.
There has been an outbreak of foot and mouth disease
Flickr
The FCDO has also updated its travel advice for British nationals visiting the Maldives, which is widely considered a bucket list holiday destination.
Its latest advisory focuses on the high risk of piracy during sea travel in the region, ongoing terrorism threats, and cultural considerations.
For those travelling on the sea, the FCDO has warned that there is a "high risk of piracy and armed robbery" in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Officials noted that attacks have occurred on local fishing sailing vessels (dhows) in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa.
