Britain Joins South Korea and Mexico in Banning German Livestock Imports Amid Mucosal Disease Outbreak
The British government announced on Tuesday that it will ban the import of cattle, pigs, and sheep from Germany, effective immediately, in a move to protect farmers and their livelihoods. The decision comes after a confirmed case of the Mucosal Disease (MKS) was reported in Germany over the weekend, prompting concerns about the potential spread of the highly infectious virus to the UK.
According to the British government, the ban will prevent the issuance of health certificates for MKS-susceptible animals, including all living animals and fresh meat, from Germany. The chief of the UK’s Veterinary Authority also urged farmers to remain vigilant and monitor their animals for clinical signs of the disease.
While there have been no reported cases of MKS in the UK, the authorities are warning that the virus poses a significant risk to animal health and is highly contagious among cattle, pigs, sheep, and other cloven-hoofed animals. “The government will do everything necessary to protect the farmers of our country from the risk of Mucosal Disease” said the Minister of Agriculture, Daniel Zeichner. “We will not hesitate to add more countries to the list if the outbreak spreads.”
The UK will continue to monitor the situation in close cooperation with German authorities, who have already imposed export restrictions on affected herds. The Mucosal Disease, a viral infection, was first reported in Germany over the weekend, with three animals having died and the rest being culled as a precautionary measure.