Austria has closed a number of border crossings with its neighbors, Hungary and Slovakia, in an effort to curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and prevent it from entering the country.
Slovakia declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after the disease was found on three farms, they write. foreign media, the Telegraph reports.
On Wednesday, Hungary had its first outbreak of the highly infectious disease in 50 years, prompting the country to deploy soldiers and launch disinfection measures to control it in an area bordering Slovakia and Austria.
The disease does not pose a risk to humans and mainly affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals such as pigs, sheep and goats.
Infected animals experience fever and mouth blisters as symptoms of the disease. Outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions and the destruction of some livestock.
Austrian health authorities are carrying out rigorous checks at several open border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia.
Cars must pass over an “epidemic carpet” to prevent the spread of the virus, and this measure also applies to pedestrians crossing the border on foot.
Police are also checking vehicles at border crossings for meat products.
Austrian authorities say they are concentrating their police resources on the border as this emergency continues.
They added that while border forces are on high alert, they are also preparing if the disease is detected on any of Austria’s farms. /Telegraph/