Germany closed off five farms as a precaution after an outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was reported in Britain, the DPA news agency said on Sunday.
Four of the farms, located in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate states, were sealed off following the recent purchase of sheep from a farm 150 km from the site of the outbreak in southern England, the DPA said.
The fifth farm was in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. It had imported from England a horse which was isolated for quarantine.
Mecklenburg-West Pomerania Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus was quoted as saying that authorities had tightened controls at international seaports and airports. Travellers were warned not to bring back any food products from Britain.
Britain imposed a nation-wide ban on the movement of livestock after the FMD strain was confirmed at a farm near Guildford on Friday night. Some 64 cattle have since been culled at the farm.
British officials said the strain is identical to that used for vaccines at the Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright, three miles (about 5 km) from the farm.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cattle with symptoms like fever and lesions in the mouth and lameness. The disease in humans is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment.
Source: Xinhua
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