Austria Closes 23 Border Crossings Due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease
The affected crossings have been determined in close coordination with the authorities in the affected federal states of Lower Austria and Burgenland, the chambers of agriculture, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of the Interior announced in a press release on Thursday.
The state police directorates are responsible for securing and controlling the border crossings. "Closed border crossings, as opposed to border controls at open crossings, represent a less personnel-intensive measure and are carried out with varying strength and intensity," the ministry stated. In this context, it was announced that no further details on the measures at the borders would be disclosed.
Since the end of last week, the police have been supporting the health authorities as part of the existing controls at the Slovak and Hungarian borders. The measures include stopping vehicles, checking documents, and inspecting vehicles.
Foot-and-mouth disease: Monitoring program launched in Burgenland
Meanwhile, a comprehensive monitoring program has been launched in Burgenland. In the coming weeks, all 660 farms in Northern and Central Burgenland will be inspected, it was announced on Thursday from the office of Deputy Governor Anja Haider-Wallner (Green Party). Twelve farms in Deutsch Jahrndorf, Nickelsdorf, Halbturn, and Mönchhof will be sampled weekly. Initially, the program will run until May 17.
The four municipalities in the district of Neusiedl am See, where samples are taken weekly, form a surveillance zone due to their proximity to the Hungarian outbreak site Levél. Hunting is also prohibited there to prevent wild animals from being startled and potentially spreading the virus during their escape. Recently, all tests in the zone have come back negative.
Examination for Clinical Symptoms in 660 Farms
In the 660 farms of the observation zone, as Burgenland calls it, the animals will be gradually examined for clinical symptoms in the coming weeks, and compliance with biosecurity measures will be checked. In around 150 farms, samples will also be taken monthly.
The surveillance program is an important measure for early detection, emphasized Haider-Wallner. "We must do everything to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease."
The Burgenland FPÖ farmers' chairman and Federal Councilor Thomas Karacsony spoke out against border closures to the APA: "This leads to panic and paralyzes the entire economy as it did during the Corona times." In his view, epidemic mats at border crossings and "rigorous border controls" of live animal transports would be more effective.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.