Foot and Mouth Disease detected in water buffalo in Germany

Germany confirmed that Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was detected in water buffalo on January 10, 2025. This is the first case of FMD in Germany since 1988. This incursion of the FMD virus into Europe warrants heightened awareness by Canadian producers and travellers. 

Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious virus that can infect all cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle. In Canada, FMD is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act and all suspected cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).  

FMD causes blister lesions in the mouth and on the coronary bands. Signs of the disease in cattle include fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. This manifests as animals off-feed, with smacking of the lips, grinding of teeth, drooling and lameness.  

CFIA provides information for travellers. It is not recommended to visit farms in countries infected with FMD. Belongings should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected or dry-cleaned. Contact with susceptible livestock should be delayed for 5 days after any international travel and 14 days after returning from a country without an official FMD-negative status. Under no circumstance should meat or animal products be brought back to Canada. Travellers entering Canada are required to declare all foods, plants, and animals to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer. 

 Canadian producers should take extra precautions at this time. Farm tours for international visitors are discouraged. Additional information is available on the CCA Emergency Preparedness webpage. Producers seeking to elevate biosecurity preparedness can refer to the Beef Cattle Biosecurity Standard, Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) producer resources, and beefresearch.ca/fmd. A BCRC webinar on FMD will be held on January 15th and can be registered for here.