Austria deploys military to border due to severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

The Lower Austrian provincial government requested assistance from the Austrian armed forces to support health authorities in the affected districts.

The Austrian military is deploying 28 soldiers to the Hohenau (Gänserndorf district) and Berg (Bruck an der Leitha district) border crossings.

The ministry said the first units had already begun to survey the areas.

The protection of the population and animals is now the priority. The participation of our soldiers is essential to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Austria and to protect our agriculture,

emphasised Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner.

The highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease virus, not seen in 50 years, was first identified in Hungary in early March. Since then, the disease has appeared at several cattle farms in Győr-Moson-Sopron county, which borders both Austria and Slovakia.

Both countries have since implemented stricter controls at border crossings, however, the infection appeared in Slovakia a few weeks ago.

All test results in Lower Austria have been negative so far,

announced the office of Provincial Councillor Susanne Rosenkranz on Friday.

Spokesman Stefan Loidl told the APA news agency: "The police checks introduced on Saturday at the Slovakian border continue to run smoothly, everything is proceeding as usual. There were no traffic jams on Friday morning".

No positive test results have been registered in Burgenland either, according to the province's crisis team. The overall situation remained largely unchanged on Friday. Sampling and border controls continued, and the epidemic mats containing 5% formic acid solution for disinfecting vehicles at border crossings are being regularly maintained.

Cover photo (for illustration purposes only): Portfolio