22nd March 2025 – (Prague) The Czech Republic reinstated border controls with Slovakia on Friday following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among cattle on three farms in Slovakia.
Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny announced that extraordinary measures at Slovak crossings were implemented in coordination with the Czech Police and Interior Minister Vit Rakusan. Veterinary inspectors and police are enforcing a ban on the import of livestock from affected areas at four key border crossings.
Vyborny has reached out to leaders of major agricultural unions, urging their members to comply with emergency measures and strict biosecurity protocols. “I once again appeal to all farmers not to underestimate the necessary protective measures for their livestock, including hygiene, disinfection, and a strict ban on unauthorised entry into their facilities,” he stated on social media platform X.
Earlier this month, the Czech Republic had already prohibited the transport of susceptible animals from Hungary and Slovakia due to FMD outbreaks, although this ban was lifted just days ago.
FMD primarily impacts cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, with symptoms including fever, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and blisters on the mouth and feet. The State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic has noted that, alongside human activity, wild animals, including wild boars, can also transmit the disease, which spreads primarily through inhalation and direct contact between animals.