FMD outbreak in Slovakia: update

On March 25, the Slovak government confirmed a fourth case of foot and mouth disease (FMD) on a farm in the village of Lúč na Ostrove. In response to the growing outbreak, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok announced the meeting of a crisis management team to better coordinate resources and implement preventive measures. Meanwhile, the government has declared a state of emergency for the entire country, effective from 1 pm on March 25. Speaking with the press, Prime Minister Robert Fico said the outbreak is “a deadly serious matter” and can affect dramatically the Slovak economy, leading even to potential shortages of milk and meat.