The UK government has further strengthened measures to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) following another confirmed case in Hungary, near the Austrian border.
As a precaution, the UK has suspended the commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, wild ruminants, and their untreated products - including fresh meat and dairy - from Austria. This extends existing restrictions already placed on imports from Slovakia, Hungary, and Germany.
Travellers are also now banned from bringing meat, dairy, and animal by-products from Austria into Great Britain, in line with restrictions previously imposed on Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss urged livestock keepers to remain vigilant, stressing the importance of scrupulous biosecurity and immediate reporting of any suspected cases. Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner confirmed that further restrictions would be introduced if necessary.
Although FMD poses no risk to human health, it is a highly contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, with severe economic consequences. Livestock keepers are advised to monitor for clinical signs, such as sores, blisters, lameness, and fever.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/import-ban-of-cattle-pigs-sheep-and-deer-from-austria-to-protect-farmers