MKS: Federal Army Comes to Lower Austria Border

Due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Slovakia and Hungary, a military assistance deployment at the Lower Austrian border will also start on Monday. 28 soldiers will be responsible for disease mats at the crossings in Hohenau (Gänserndorf district) and Berg (Bruck an der Leitha district), it was announced via a press release. Initial reconnaissance teams were already deployed on Friday.

Lower Austria requested assistance

The request for military assistance was made by the state of Lower Austria to the military command. The activity is now being carried out to support the health authorities in the districts of Bruck an der Leitha and Gänserndorf, the military emphasized.

"The protection of our population and animals is now of the highest priority. Our soldiers are making an indispensable contribution to preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Austria and protecting our agriculture," emphasized Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP).

Tests did not indicate FMD

In Lower Austria, all test results have so far been negative, it was reported on Friday from the office of FPÖ regional councilor Susanne Rosenkranz. The controls introduced on Saturday at the border with Slovakia continued to be very calm from a police perspective. Everything is running as usual, and traffic jams were initially even absent on Friday morning, said spokesman Stefan Loidl upon request.

No positive test results were recorded in Burgenland either, according to the crisis team of the state. In general, the situation on Friday was largely unchanged. Sampling and border controls continued, the disease mats, which are treated with a five percent solution of formic acid, were regularly maintained by the building directorate, and the waiting times at the border remained within limits.

Disinfection measures are now also likely to have been initiated on the Hungarian side at three border crossings. Reportedly, the authorities in the neighboring country are active at the smaller border crossing Nickelsdorf-Hegyeshalom (Neusiedl am See district) and also at the border crossings Klingenbach and St. Margarethen (both Eisenstadt-Umgebung district) on the Hungarian side.

(APA/Red)

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