MKS on advance – Easter week decides whether the epidemic touches us

For a month, thousands of cattle had to be slaughtered in Hungary and Slovakia because an infection with the mouth and the claw disease influences the entire herd within a very short time. The virus also affects pigs, sheep, goats, buffalo, alpacas and play. The animals form on the udder, on the claws and in the mouth of the mouth, which can lead to serious movement pain, countless and high fever.

Because the transfer of pathogens is also made through animal products, polluted transport vehicles and the air, an import ban on living animals of sensitive species and for fresh meat, raw milk, manure, manure, food, food, hunting trophies and wild meat became issued. A week ago, 24 small border crossings in Burgenland and Lower Austria had to be closed and the disease carpets had to be rolled out on open checkpoints.

Why vaccination only helps to a limited extent
In addition, Dabary samples from the nose and mouth of the animals are removed from all companies in the surveillance zone and the other limited zone and evaluated by the ages. Is there a prophylactic vaccination that has not yet existed in the EU? “Until the early nineties it was common in many European countries to vaccinate animals against MKS as a precaution. But that alone has not been suitable for successful fighting the plague,” says Florian Fellinger, epidemic expert in the Ministry of Health.

“Financial efforts with an uncertain advantage”
The vaccination can reduce the risk of clinical diseases – yet vaccinated animals can be virus carriers without showing symptoms. The “antigen reserve” in the body makes the diagnosis difficult because the animals seem immune. There are seven different MKS tribes worldwide with around 80 subtypes. Vaccination only protects against a subtype – it is not effective against other variants. “In order to guarantee immunity in an epidemic scenario, all receptive animals should be vaccinated several times a year against different subtypes – a logistical and financial effort with an uncertain advantage,” explains Fellinger.

Fear is deep for older farmers: in 1973 they experienced the first outbreak! “Almost in every village we were laid out for the carpets. They were a few meters long and actually only existed Sawdswho had to be kept moist. Otherwise, the disinfectant would not have helped, “remembers Franz Fischer, then a farm boy and the local director of Raabs on the Thaya (Lower Austria).

The devastating plague had broken out in the forest and Weinviertel- in the cold winter of 1973. For the farmers it was the start of one Monthly nightmare. Because none of them knew which courtyard would be hit. The shock of the leg in particular is burned in the collective memory of the older rural population. 80,000 animals, including a lama, had to be slaughtered. The damage was approximately 150 million Schilling (adapted for inflation around 54.5 million euros).

This happens when the plague actually breaks out
In an emergency, the “oppressive vaccination” would only be used. Only animals are vaccinated in companies that have already been hit to reduce the virus overview in the short term and to have time for established, disinfecting measures and carcass removal. The incubation period is between two and 14 days. According to the EU Act, vaccinated animals should also be killed, says Fellinger.

The economic factor plays an important role: “The vaccination is considered disproportionately expensive, the status, MKS-free without vaccination would be lost. This is an important criterion for the actions of animals and animal products.” Although we have not yet had any cases, Britain, Japan, Canada, the US and Bosnia have not stopped meat imports from Austria.

The Easter holidays started yesterday in Austria. Due to the increased travel activities, the risk that the mouth and mouth disease will also be introduced in this country in the coming days will increase. Real danger potentially naturally recovered from Hungary and Slovakia, where cases have already occurred.

Longer waiting times of Maundy Thursday
Starting with Maundy Thursday, a strong travel wave is expected, especially on the western route to Hungary. The reason for this is that Good Friday in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary is a vacation.

This must be prevented with intensive checks at the borders. At the same time, the cars must drive over disease carpets. There were smaller delays on Saturday. The ÖAMTC said that drivers “had increased with the waiting time”.

The intensive border controls will have an impact, especially on traveling on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Longer waiting times at the border crossings are predictable. The ÖAMTC experts expect about an hour of time at the Nickelsdorf Border Crossing (a 4) on Easter Monday.