Foot and Mouth disease without vaccination

Foot and mouth is a viral disease that can affect all species of cattle, pigs, wild ruminants, sheep and goats. Denmark is currently free from foot and mouth disease without vaccination. The last outbreak of the disease was in 1983.

Following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany, precautions have been taken to reduce the risk of the infection entering Denmark. Among these measures, increased monitoring for FMD was introduced on 17 January 2025, where samples suspected of Bluetongue Virus will also be analysed for FMD.

The Danish Agriculture & Food Council’s Pig Research Centre announced on 16 January that, following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany, they are calling for 48 hours’ quarantine following any visit abroad.  

The probability that foot and mouth disease in Germany will spread to Danish animals is low, stated the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration in a press release on 16 January 2025.  

Tightened security and extended protection zones at the German-Danish border  

The DANISH Transport Standard embodies the requirements for the cleaning and disinfection of vehicles arriving from abroad with hoofed animals, to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as African Swine Fever and Foot & Mouth. It covers transporters and exporters, collection points, cleaning and disinfection depots and soap washing areas.

The zone map with restrictions for quarantine and hygiene measures is continuously updated.

The current zone map, with expansions of the black and red zones near Brandenburg, indicates that lorries coming from these areas must comply with washing and disinfection requirements and undergo quarantine for up to seven days before crossing the German-Danish border.

The vehicles must also go through a safety wash, which involves a special exterior soap wash.