Mouth and claw disease
Danger from virus: Austria closes border crossings
03.04.2025 – 6:41 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Several cases of mouth and claw disease in Hungary and Slovakia have occurred since March. Farmers in Austria are concerned about developing – and demanding measures.
A new regulation will come into force in Austria to contain the mouth and claw disease (MKS) on Saturday. In this context, a total of 23 border crossings are to be closed towards Hungary and Slovakia, where any transition will be prohibited, the State Police Directorate said. The measure is expected to last until May 20, reports the Austrian radio (ORF).
So far, the border crossings in the Neusiedl am See, Mattersburg and Oberpullendorf districts are affected. There is a complete overview on the website of the Austria Chamber of Agriculture. The police are monitored by the police in different strengths and intensity. Further details have not been announced. The large border crossings such as Nickelsdorf and Kittsee remain open.
By Thursday afternoon there was still no positive MKS case in Austria, said the President of the Austria Chamber of Agriculture, Nikolaus Berlakovich. However, the outbreaks of the epidemic in Hungary and Slovakia would pose an existential risk for animal husbandry companies in Burgenland. Furthermore, Berlakovich turned to the population to “not necessarily refrain from travel to the areas concerned”. For example, no foreign stables should be entered and no food residues should be fed to farm animals.
Hungary and Slovakia have repeatedly reported MKS outbursts since mid-March-directly on the border with Austria, reports the “Topagrar” agricultural portal. Farmers had therefore already called for a stop of truck transfer by Austria from Slovakia and Hungary. According to the Austrian Ministry of Health, EU law does not allow this, it continues at “Topagrar”. If there would be an outbreak of mouth and claw disease in Austria, around 1,338 companies would be affected in Burgenland alone.
