Estonia is preparing for potential FMD outbreak

Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Terras said his country is ready to tackle a potential foot and mouth disease (FMD) emergency. Speaking on the recent outbreaks in Central Europe, Terras remarked the most important thing is prevention. If the disease arrives in Estonia, the country must react quickly, and all plans to face the contingency are in place. Terras excluded using the regular army to deal with an outbreak, underlining agreements instead with the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and the Defense League. All the relevant institutions have been informed and have established coordination points. However, Terras acknowledged that the economic impact of a potential outbreak would be serious due to restrictions imposed on the agricultural sector. Citing the country’s recent experience with African Swine Fever, he emphasized the need for livestock farmers to comply with disinfection requirements.
Terras said they are monitoring the situation in Slovakia and Austria, learning from it, and keeping daily contact with local veterinarian authorities. No cases have yet been detected in Estonia, but the risk of the disease spreading is high, especially after the recent outbreaks in Hungary and Slovakia.