Altenburger Land: Large exercise to combat mouth and claw disease!
Altenburger Land: Large exercise to combat mouth and claw disease!
What is going on in Altenburger Land? Today, on July 9, 2025, the Veterinary Service and food surveillance of the district took part in a comprehensive animal disease exercise. This large -scale measure aimed to train the fight against animal diseases, to recognize weaknesses in the processes and to remedy it if necessary. Experienced official veterinarians and animal health inspectors were involved in the exercise to optimize the processes.
A total of four official veterinarians and two animal health inspectors support the present measures, accompanied by a food inspector. Ronny Thieme, the head of the district's administrative staff, was also on site, although it did not have to be activated. The aim of the exercise was to simulate a hypothetical outbreak of the mouth and claw disease (MKS), in which cattle should be slaughtered from a restricted zone and transported to the dairy.
simulation and processes
The exercise included the blocking area around the slaughterhouse, whereby the timely recording and securing of contaminated products was of central importance. In addition, around 800 claws were carried out, which were within a radius of three kilometers around the slaughterhouse. Veterinary veterinarian Matthias Thurau was positive about the exercise. Communication with the state animal disease crisis center went smoothly and the necessary data on animal transports and inventory were put together promptly.
The importance of such exercises cannot be emphasized enough. In the event of an outbreak of epidemics, local veterinary authorities are often at the capacity limit, as the last developments show. MKS, a highly contagious viral disease in paired horses, was last found in Brandenburg in January 2025. Because of these circumstances, a quick and coordinated reaction is essential. In order to minimize the economic consequences, such an practice is of great relevance.
mouth and claw disease in more detail
The mouth and claw disease (MKS) is one of the most important animal diseases worldwide, the outbursts of which can cause devastating economic damage. This highly contagious disease affects all claw animals, while there is no health risk for humans. The typical symptoms of cattle are painful blisters in the mouth and on the claws, which can lead to lameness and unsettle. While Switzerland is considered MKS-free, other regions such as Asia, Africa and South America are affected by the plague.
MKS is transmitted through direct animal contact, excretions or infected animals without symptoms. There are vaccines, but the use of which is prohibited in many countries, including Switzerland. The responsible veterinarian must be reported immediately in order to initiate exclusion examinations at an early stage. The timely detection of this disease can be crucial to prevent larger outbreaks, which is why pet owners should be well informed.
In summary, the exercise of the Veterinary Service and Food Surveillance in Altenburger Land shows how important preparation and training are in dealing with animal diseases. It is to be hoped that such measures will continue in the future to protect our animal stocks and avoid economic losses. Further information on the mouth and claw disease offers the Federal Ministry of Nutrition and Agriculture BMEL . Detailed details about the MKS can also be found at the Federal Office for Veterinary and Food Safety Blv . The Altenburger Land provides information about the course of the exercises on its website DetailsOrt Altenburger Land, Deutschland Quellen
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