Hungary detects the first case of foot and mouth disease in 50 years – Politico

The FMD is the most dreaded animal disease in the world. Very contagious in ruminants such as cows, pigs, sheep and goats, he rarely kills cattle, but causes fever, loss of appetite and bells in the hooves and mouths that require the whole herd.

Germany is recovering from its own fear of the FMD in January, when a buffalo epidemic sparked expensive emergency measures, costing up to 1 billion euros in lost exports and incited prohibition in the United Kingdom, Mexico and South Korea.

The German epidemic has been contained, but the European authorities fear a rehearsal of a 2001 epidemic in the United Kingdom, which cost more than 15 billion agricultural and tourist sectors and led to the slaughter of more than 6 million animals.

Commission officials did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

This story has been updated.