Lisbon, March 20, 2026 (Lusa) - Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, has worsened in Europe with new outbreaks in Greece and Cyprus, leading the Portuguese food safety, plant and animal welfare service (the DGAV) to call for reinforced preventive measures.
"The epidemiological situation of foot-and-mouth disease in the European Union (EU) has recently worsened following the confirmation of new outbreaks of the disease in the eastern Mediterranean region," an information note from the DGAV said.
On 15 March, an outbreak was confirmed on the island of Lesbos, Greece, where the last occurrence had been recorded in 1994.
The outbreak occurred on a farm with 288 cattle and sheep. Control measures were implemented, including the slaughter of the animals.
In the Republic of Cyprus, the first outbreak was detected in the Larnaka region.
To date, 42 outbreaks have been confirmed, and emergency vaccination has been implemented alongside security measures.
Furthermore, the FMD virus is circulating in Turkey, which borders the EU, constituting an "additional risk factor".
The disease is also spread across several regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Since 2025, outbreaks have been reported in countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, as well as several African nations.
Consequently, the DGAV has asked producers, veterinarians, transporters, industrialists, and traders to reinforce preventive measures, including the cleaning and disinfection of vehicles and ships transporting animals.
Other measures include a ban on feeding animals with food waste and the destruction of animal by-products.
Food waste must also not be left accessible to wild boar. Any occurrence or suspicion of FMD must be reported to the DGAV.
The disease can cause a decrease in milk production, loss of appetite, miscarriages, or sudden death.
Vesicles (a type of blister) may appear on the tongue, gums, cheeks, lips, teats, and nostrils of animals, along with grey or yellow streaks on the heart.
There is no treatment for this disease, and vaccination is prohibited in the EU, "except in emergency situations ".
PE / LYT // AYLS
Lusa
