Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. It is caused by a virus from the family Picornaviridae, genus Aphthovirus, and is characterised by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. The disease poses significant economic challenges due to its impact on livestock trade and production.
There are seven serotypes of the FMD virus: A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1, with serotype C considered extinct since 2004. The virus is highly resistant to environmental conditions and can survive for long periods in contaminated materials. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated fomites, and airborne spread, particularly in temperate zones.
Although, according to WOAH, 77% of the world's livestock are exposed to the disease, mainly in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and certain areas of South America, the disease has been absent from the European continent since 2011. But the situation has changed since the beginning of 2025.
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Clinical signs can range from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the virus strain, exposure dose, age, breed, host species, and immunity.
Affected animals may have multiple lesions:
Morbidity is high (up to 100%) but mortality is generally low in adult animals (1–5%) but higher in young calves, lambs, and piglets (20% or more), often due to myocarditis or starvation. Most adults recover in 2–3 weeks, although secondary infections can slow recovery.
The prevention and control of FMD rely on a combination of sanitary and medical prophylaxis measures. Sanitary measures include border control, quarantine, slaughter of infected and contact animals, and disinfection of premises and materials. Medical prophylaxis involves the use of inactivated vaccines, which are classified as either standard or higher potency vaccines. Standard potency vaccines are suitable for routine vaccination campaigns, while higher potency vaccines are recommended for emergency vaccination in naive populations.
An outbreak was detected in a herd of water buffaloes in the eastern part of Germany, in the region of Brandenburg, on 9 January 2025. The isolated virus was of serotype O, lineage O/ME-SA/SA2018, probably of Middle Eastern origin. A containment zone was established in the regions of Brandenburg and Berlin. This containment was successful: no further outbreaks occurred, and the eradication efforts allowed Germany to regain its FMD-free status on 14 April 2025, which is crucial for international trade.
Hungary has reported several outbreaks of FMD in 2025. The first outbreak was detected on March 3, 2025, in a cattle farm (1418 animals) in the north-west region, close to the border with Slovakia and Austria. The outbreak also involved a strain from serotype O but from a different lineage (O/ME-SA/Pan-Asia2/ANT-10) from the strain responsible for the German outbreak. Further outbreaks were reported in April 2025, affecting several cattle farms:
Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infections. The Hungarian authorities have implemented strict control measures, including quarantine and movement restrictions, to prevent further spread.
To date (May 12, 2025), no additional outbreaks have been reported in this country.
Outbreaks of FMD also occurred in Slovakia in 2025, with the first three cases detected on March 20, 2025, in cattle farms (totalling 2,771 animals) along the border with Hungary. The outbreaks involved the same strain as the Hungarian outbreaks, suggesting a probable epidemiological link. The Slovak authorities have implemented control measures, including the culling of infected animals, the vaccination of susceptible animals, and the establishment of protection and surveillance zones. The last reported outbreak was detected on April 4, 2025.
Three other outbreaks were reported a few days later:
To date (May 12, 2025), no additional outbreaks have been reported in this country.
The recent FMD outbreaks in Europe highlight the ongoing risk of the disease and the importance of vigilant surveillance and control measures. The successful containment and eradication efforts in Germany demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated control measures. However, the outbreaks in Hungary and Slovakia underscore the need for continued vigilance and international cooperation to prevent the spread of FMD and protect the livestock industry.
• https://www.bmel.de/EN/topics/animals/animal-health/foot-and-mouth-disease.html
• https://www.woah.org/en/disease/foot-and-mouth-disease/#ui-id-2
• https://www.woah.org/en/document/technical-disease-card-fmd/
• https://www.plateforme-esa.fr/fr/bulletin-hebdomadaire-de-veille-sanitaire-internationale-du-06-05-2025
• https://www.fao.org/eufmd/global-situation/fr/