Overview

• Austria will temporarily close 23 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia starting April 5 to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
• The closures were ordered at the request of Austrian health authorities due to the escalating outbreaks in neighboring countries.
• Police are conducting vehicle checks and document inspections at border points, with some crossings equipped with disinfection mats for trucks.
• Foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus affecting cloven-hoofed animals, poses no direct threat to humans but has severe economic implications.
• The Lower Austrian Farmers' Association warns that an outbreak in Austria could have catastrophic effects on agriculture and trade.