Germany: First Outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth-Disease in Germany since 1988

On January 10, 2025, the German Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI) confirmed a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) case on a water buffalo farm in Brandenburg. As a result, Germany lost its recognition as “free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination” by the World Organization for Animal Health. FMD can result in significant economic losses due to the closure of foreign export markets, and costs associated with containing the disease. Several countries (e.g., Canada, Mexico, South Korea, US, UK) have already put import restrictions in place.