British travellers warning about ‘highly contagious disease' spreading in Europe
British travellers warning about 'highly contagious disease' spreading in Europe
The UK government has 'already taken action' according to the FCDO
Model of a foot and mouth disease virus capsid.
(Image: Martin McCarthy )
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has shared information which Brits need to know about to protect them from what has been described as the 'highly contagious' foot and mouth disease if they are travelling to Slovakia.
There are increased vehicle inspection measures, especially on freight vehicles, and the temporary closure of some crossing points on the Austrian and Hungarian borders. This is due to a range of emergency measures introduced by the Slovak government in March 2025 following the outbreak.
Czechia also has border control checks in place on its border with Slovakia. Details of restrictions in place can be found on the Slovak Ministry of the Interior's website( in Slovak only). For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
The UK Government has already taken action to prevent the commercial import from Slovakia of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other non- domestic ruminants and porcines such as deer and their untreated products, such as fresh meat and dairy.
This will protect farmers and their livestock.
Since March 8, travellers to GB have not been able to bring meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants, or hay or straw, from Hungary and Slovakia after a case on the Hungarian border with Slovakia.
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The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following the recent outbreaks in Hungary, Germany and now Slovakia. There are no cases in the UK currently.
FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as wild boar, deer, llamas, and alpacas. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.
FMD causes significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat, and milk for affected countries.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: "Foot and Mouth disease has now been confirmed in Slovakia, we remain in contact with our European counterparts to understand the latest situation.
"We have seen a disturbing number of foot and mouth cases on the continent, and we need to stay on high alert to the risk of disease incursion – as a government, at the border and on our farms.
"Protecting animal health and minimising the risk of disease incursion remains our top priority. Livestock keepers are reminded to continue exercising the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said: "With disease now confirmed in Slovakia , it is clear the Government's precautionary approach to ban Slovakian imports was the right one.
"The confirmation of a Foot and Mouth disease in a third European country is a serious concern, the government will take whatever action is necessary to prevent the further spread of disease.
"Ensuring the safety of our livestock sector and protecting our farmers will always be a top priority.
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"This comes as the government announced a £200 million investment in the UK's main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease. "
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