Thuringia in action: Animal disease exercise on foot and mouth disease successful

Thuringia in action: Animal disease exercise on foot and mouth disease successful

Especially in times when animal diseases are a constant issue, Thuringia has completed an important exercise to combat foot and mouth disease (FMD). The intensive exercises took place from June 30th to July 2nd, 2025, in which, in addition to veterinary authorities, the State Office for Consumer Protection and the Bundeswehr were involved. The aim of this exercise was to optimize processes and uncover possible weak points in disease management nachrichten-heute.net reported.

The exercise scenario included simulated outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in pig and cattle farms in the Weimarer Land, Unstrut-Hainich district and in Sömmerda. Exclusion zones were set up and epidemiological investigations were carried out. As experts know, foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease of even-toed ungulates that, although harmless to humans, can cause enormous economic damage.

The risk of infection

The FMD is not something to be trifled with. Affected by a high infection rate, the virus shows various symptoms in both cattle and pigs. These range from painful blisters and lameness to more subtle signs in sheep. According to the updated leaflet on foot-and-mouth disease from THSK The virus can also survive in the environment for months, which further complicates the situation.

The incubation period varies depending on the animal species. Cattle usually show symptoms after two to seven days, while pigs can take between two and twelve days. This makes it all the more important to report foot-and-mouth disease to the veterinary office immediately if you suspect that the disease has to be reported. Preventive measures such as refraining from purchasing and transporting animals and disinfecting transport vehicles are also crucial in order to minimize the risk of infection.

The situation in Brandenburg

Another example of the challenges in animal disease management is African swine fever (ASF), which was detected in Brandenburg. The first cases occurred in the Spree-Neiße district, according to the website barnim.de informed. This disease also has a serious impact on agriculture and requires extensive protective measures to contain it.

The danger of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and ASF shows how important regular training and the implementation of such exercises are. State Secretary Udo Götze praised the cooperation between the institutions and emphasized the importance of this preparation for quick and coordinated action in the event of a crisis. The experiences from the most recent Thuringian exercise should help to further optimize disease control in the future and make it even more effective.