Fear of Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Now Border Crossings Are Being Closed

A spokesperson for the responsible State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) in the Ministry of Health confirmed to the APA on Wednesday a report by the free newspaper "Heute" (online). A corresponding regulation for the Ministry of the Interior is already being worked on. This will authorize the Ministry of the Interior to close the affected crossings.

Small Border Crossings in Austria to be Closed

The measure primarily affects crossings "everywhere where controls are not possible," the spokesperson was quoted by the news portal. "The large border crossings remain open," it was said to the APA. Recently, there was an outbreak in neighboring Slovakia. There are currently no indications of an introduction into Austria.

Calls for Stricter Measures

Previously, there were calls for comprehensive controls as well as border controls. These, along with the "laying of disease mats at the borders, are overdue," stated Burgenland's Deputy Governor Anja Haider-Wallner (Greens) in a press release. "Border controls must also finally be carried out without gaps," she said. The Ministry of the Interior must "finally get moving before something worse happens," said Haider-Wallner.

Johannes Schmuckenschlager, President of the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Austria, also called for a temporary closure of small crossings. Furthermore, the ÖVP National Council member demanded, among other things, strict control of the import ban on live livestock as well as meat and dairy products and a comprehensive crisis plan "to be able to react quickly and specifically in an emergency." Together with ÖVP Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf, Schmuckenschlager also appealed to refrain from unnecessary travel to affected areas in the coming weeks.

(APA/Red)

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