Poland’s agriculture minister has appealed for special caution amid the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in countries neighboring Poland and warned of high fines for those who break relevant rules.
On Saturday, Czesław Siekierski visited the Polish-Slovak border crossing in Barwinek, one of three in the region where all cattle and refrigerated lorries coming from Slovakia are disinfected and where veterinary services, border guards, and police are on duty because of the threat.
The minister said the highly contagious disease had not yet reached Poland and referred to reports of bargain hunting for animals from Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
"There is information that there are attempts to smuggle animals in various places outside the border crossings. This is a big risk," he told reporters.
"If foot-and-mouth were to appear here, thousands of animals would have to be destroyed."
"Social sensitivity is needed to condemn any inappropriate behavior... There will be heavy penalties for offenders, including court summonses. This is an exceptionally high risk, so the actions of the state services will be very decisive," said Siekierski.
FMD is an infectious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle and pigs. While not a risk to humans, it can cause severe economic losses in agriculture.
The last case of FMD in Poland was recorded in 1971.
The minister said the highly contagious disease had not yet reached Poland and referred to reports of bargain hunting for animals from Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
"There is information that there are attempts to smuggle animals in various places outside the border crossings. This is a big risk," he told reporters.
"If foot-and-mouth were to appear here, thousands of animals would have to be destroyed."
"Social sensitivity is needed to condemn any inappropriate behavior... There will be heavy penalties for offenders, including court summonses. This is an exceptionally high risk, so the actions of the state services will be very decisive," said Siekierski.
FMD is an infectious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle and pigs. While not a risk to humans, it can cause severe economic losses in agriculture.
The last case of FMD in Poland was recorded in 1971.
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