Overview

• About 110 veterinarians attended the 10th Brandenburg Veterinarian Day in Seddiner See, where Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt recognized their rapid, coordinated response
• Germany’s first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak since 1988 was detected in January in a water buffalo herd in Hönow (Märkisch-Oderland)
• Authorities swiftly implemented culling of infected animals, movement bans across Brandenburg and international trade restrictions to contain the virus
• Mid-April confirmation of disease-free status by the World Organisation for Animal Health lifted export limitations and marked the formal end of trade bans
• Mittelstädt emphasized that maintaining rigorous biosecurity measures and early detection protocols is essential to guard against future incursions