Foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at another farm in Malacky District, Záhorie. Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč (Smer-SD) announced this on Sunday before a meeting of the Central Crisis Staff. The farm houses over 3,500 cattle. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development specified that the outbreak was detected in Plavecký Štvrtok.
"Regular testing will be conducted across the district," said Takáč. Other farms operated by the Danish company that owns this facility have also been closed. "Vaccination is starting, and tomorrow around noon, equipment will be moved to the farm to accelerate depopulation," he added.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated €10 million for the purchase of goods and services needed to implement measures related to foot-and-mouth disease. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) announced this at a briefing following Monday’s special cabinet meeting, which was also attended by the Agriculture Minister and Interior Minister.
According to Fico, the government also discussed deploying professional soldiers to help maintain order in connection with the disease.
Foot-and-mouth disease has now been confirmed in five cattle farms in southern and western Slovakia, including Medveďov, Ňárad, Baka, and Lúč na Ostrove. The first three outbreaks were detected on March 21, the fourth on March 25. The incubation period is seven to fourteen days.
Source: TASR
