The Swine Health Information Center, in collaboration with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, hosted a webinar on April 25, 2025, highlighting the recent incursion of foot and mouth disease virus in the EU and the global threat it poses for swine production. The webinar entitled “FMDV Incursions in EU: Situation Update and Considerations for US Prevention” had 325 registrants globally and is now available for on demand viewing. Information is provided about the virus, global presence of FMDV, status updates for Germany and Hungary, and a review of available producer resources for prevention and preparedness of emerging and foreign animal diseases.
The identification of FMDV in three EU countries after maintaining decades of negative status raises concern about a potential emerging threat to swine health. Understanding the clinical signs, epidemiology, biosecurity, and prevention steps for FMDV can help producers protect their herd health. Presenters offering their expertise included:
Dr. Jonathan Arzt, research veterinary medical officer, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Dr. Maria Sol Perez Aguirreburualde, deputy director and international research development manager, University of Minnesota
Dr. Denise Wüllner, health assurance, central and eastern Europe, PIC
Dr. Gyula Balka, associate professor, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
Dr. Patrick Webb, assistant chief veterinarian, National Pork Board
First, Dr. Arzt provided a clinical and epidemiological overview of FMD in pigs. Clinical signs of FMDV in pigs include depressed activity, vesicles of the coronary bands, lying down versus standing or moving, and fever that could exceed 105°F. Dr. Arzt noted characteristic lesions for FMDV include blanching, white discoloration, and vesicles around the coronary band of the hooves as the most common lesion in pigs. The presence of vesicles on the tongue, snout, and haired skin on front or hind limbs near pressure points is also common, but less consistent than coronary bands. The primary site of FMDV infection in pigs is the oropharynx (tonsils).
Dr. Arzt stated that infection progresses rapidly after a 24-hour incubation period with vesicles typically appearing within 48 to 72 hours. Lesions will mature and slough affected tissues within 14 days. Unlike ruminants, pigs are not competent long-term carriers of FMDV and typically clear the virus within 14 to 21 days post-infection. He noted that pigs are contagious 24 hours before clinical signs are noted through 14 days post-infection.
Identifying FMDV can be a challenge, Dr. Arzt stressed, as there are four vesicular diseases with similar presentation: FMDV, Senecavirus A, swine vesicular disease, and vesicular stomatitis. Early stage FMD vesicles have characteristic blanching, whiteness, and swelling whereas SVA vesicles tend to have a yellow tinge and are often less fluid filled. All vesicular diseases in pigs are visually and clinically indiscernible however and PCR testing is required for differentiation.
Dr. Arzt reviewed the potential of FMDV being spread through feedstuffs. While infectious FMDV can be recovered from contaminated feed for at least 40 days under cold storage conditions, stability varies based on the strain and type of storage. Through research funded by SHIC, he noted that a high viral dose is required in feed to result in infection through consumption of contaminated feed. Dr. Arzt said the high amount of virus required to cause infection in this scenario was not likely to occur in production settings of contaminated feed ingredients. Dr. Arzt referenced contaminated pork or meat items as higher risks for oral consumption and FMDV infection.
In her presentation on global FMDV circulation, Dr. Perez reviewed current FMDV distribution, and the various serotypes across regions and countries. Status categories include FMD-free with vaccination, FMD-free without vaccination, and endemic for those regions with persistent infections. Due to data gaps, she advised caution when reviewing available information as not reported may indicate “…no recent evidence” versus a proven disease-free status.
Dr. Perez noted that various lineages of FMDV have moved rapidly from country to country. The lineages SAT 2/V to Algeria, O/EA-3 to Libya, and Ind-2001e MYMBD21 across South Asia show viruses can escape static control plans in weeks. In addition, wildlife interfaces matter, evidenced by concurrent SAT 1 + SAT 3 spillovers in South Africa from water buffalo reservoirs. These reservoirs can topple disease control zoning and resulting outbreaks may demand broader vaccine formulations for control and mitigation.
Producers and practitioners are encouraged to stay aware of global FMDV status. Globally, Dr. Perez recommends continuous genomic surveillance, flexible regional vaccine banks, and cross-border contingency planning to guide prevention and preparedness activities.
Dr. Wüllner provided an overview of the sole case of FMDV in Germany detected in January 2025 that disrupted a 14-year freedom of the virus for Europe and a 37-year freedom for Germany. Dr. Wüllner noted Germany had been struggling with blue tongue virus serotype 3 (BTV3) in ruminants since 2023 and this ongoing issue complicated the FMDV diagnosis since the two viruses can have a similar clinical presentation.
Dr. Wüllner said clinical signs of BTV3 in cattle include inflammation of the teat skin, mucous membranes in the eyelid area, oral cavity, and genitalia. In addition, detachment of mucous membranes in the tongue and mouth as well as vesicles on the coronary band can be other clinical signs. The clinical manifestations of BTV3 in cattle resemble the symptoms of FMDV, she stated.
The individual FMDV case was detected at a small farm with 14 head of water buffalo located near Berlin. Initially, the herd owner noted death loses in three animals and BTV3 was suspected. The third death loss led to post-mortem examination and testing for BTV3 at the official national laboratory. The BTV3 test results were negative. When the probable diagnosis was disproved, differential diagnoses were considered and a test for FMDV was subsequently ordered. The outcome was positive for FMDV. Investigation and testing occurred over a three-day period in January. Dr. Wüllner stated that all samples were forwarded to the national reference lab to confirm the results and on January 10, 2025, FMDV serotype O was confirmed.
Disease control measures were implemented and the remainder of the water buffalo herd was depopulated on the same day as FMDV confirmation. Carcasses were safely disposed of through movement in sealed trailers to rendering plants. All susceptible animals on farms within 1 km of the FMD outbreak site were culled, including one pig farm with 244 head.
Dr. Wüllner shared Germany has a national system providing affected animal owners compensation for loss. This includes financial help for specialist companies to perform culling. After culling, the farm was disinfected, and lime was applied to surrounding grass fields where fences were raised. The German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture (BMEL) issued a standstill order for all animals in the Brandenburg/Berlin area for seven days and further zones were established to halt animal movements. Monitoring in restricted zones began and all farms within the affected area were tested a total of three times, with testing occurring every seven days. In the surveillance zone, farms were tested twice every 14 days. She noted there is no intensive livestock production in this zone.
Due to the limited nature of the outbreak, rapid response actions, and subsequent protocols implemented, the World Organization for Animal Health reinstated Germany’s status of “free from FMDV without vaccination” on April 14, 2025, upon request from the German government. Official recognition of WOAH animal health status is significant to international trade.
Dr. Balka described the recent FMDV outbreaks in Hungary. He compared the size of Hungary to that of Indiana and stated that there are currently five outbreaks of FMDV within the country. The first outbreak occurred in Kisbajcs in March 2025. Initially, dairy heifers exhibited loss of appetite and fever with moldy bedding being suspected as the potential cause. As specific clinical signs also appeared within the herd, affecting heifers, milking cows as well as fattening animals, the official veterinarian was notified and suspicion of FMDV lead to herd testing and halting animal movements pending confirmation. Once the official outbreak was confirmed three days after the first non-specific clinical signs were noted, additional steps such as reporting to the EU and WOAH, a 72-hour movement ban, and establishing restriction zones were implemented. FMDV confirmation led to culling of infected animals and disinfection of the dairy farm.
Following the Kisbajcs outbreak, FMDV was also identified on farms in Levél, Darnózseli, Dunakiliti, and Rábapordány, with the last outbreak being confirmed on April 17, 2025. Clinical signs of FMDV in cattle in Hungary included excessive salivation/drooling, being off feed, fever, audible tutting noises, and painful lesions on the tongue, nose, and teats.
Once FMDV was identified in Hungary, a suspension of FMD-free without vaccination status was initiated. Importation of susceptible animals into restricted areas as well as exports to EU or third countries are prohibited. Every susceptible species within the surveillance zones (10 km) must be kept inside. Fairs, exhibitions, and events presenting all animal species are prohibited until May 5, 2025. Slaughter (not obligatory) of pigs in the restricted areas at appointed slaughterhouses (after negative testing within 48 hours) is prescribed. Affected farmers were compensated by the government. Smaller border crossings have been closed while larger ones undergo disinfection.
Dr. Balka noted that the route by which FMDV was introduced into Hungary is currently unknown. Dr. Balka stated there is no connection between the Germany and Hungary FMDV outbreak strains. The first outbreak in Hungary was near the border with Slovakia and the fifth FMDV outbreak in Hungary was 60 km from the nearest infected site despite strict biosecurity measures.
As an additional step to manage the FMDV outbreak, from the second case, vaccination began on the days of outbreak confirmation to try to decrease viral shedding from animals while performing depopulation of infected herds, Dr. Balka stated. Of the three primary and two secondary outbreaks in Hungary (secondary had contact with primary), 9312 cattle and nearly 10,000 pigs in the vicinity were culled. Additional biosecurity steps included the use of drive-over disinfection mats at border crossings, disinfectant use at burial sites, prohibition of hunting, and restricted personal traffic in the national parks where high value traditional breeds are kept. Dr. Balka offered this resource for updates on FMD in the EU.
Dr. Webb highlighted resources for FMDV prevention and preparedness efforts available from the National Pork Board’s Pork Store. These include 12-in. by 18-in. laminated posters containing information on FMD (English – #04868, Spanish – #04868S), classical swine fever (English – #04897, Spanish – #04897S), and African swine fever (English – #-04895, Spanish – #04895S). The posters are designed to highlight signs and symptoms of FMD and how to report suspect cases. NPB has also prepared a disinfectant booklet including information on products labeled for foreign animal diseases, outlining characteristics of common swine disinfectants, dose rates, and contact time required.
A wide variety of employee training materials are available from the Center for Food Security and Public Health for FMD including fact sheets, summaries, images, and PowerPoint presentations. In addition, Secure Pork Supply offers additional videos and documents for employee training. Resources for FMD, CSF, and ASF information along with additional information on FMD vaccination are all available on the SPS website. The SPS website has four videos available in English and Spanish: Introduction to Biosecurity, Do Not Bring Disease to the Site, Premieter Buffer Area, and Line of Separation and Biosecure Entry. Additional training materials are available for mmanure management, mortality management, non-farm personnel, pig transport, and truck washing.
Dr. Webb stated that enhanced biosecurity training and implementation of those steps are key to success for disease prevention and preparedness. With the beginning of the exhibition season, Dr. Webb highlighted biosecurity resources for weigh-in or tagging events, exhibitions and sales, all available at the NPB website.
Dr. Webb emphasized the need for producers to have completed their biosecurity focused SPS plans. In addition, the swine industry in the US also offers AgView, a free, opt-in technology solution for producers to deliver traceability data to state animal health officials in emergencies, Certified Swine Sample Collector training for barn staff sample collection, and US SHIP, the Swine Health Improvement Plan modeled after the US Poultry Improvement Plan.
This webinar, hosted by SHIC and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, is conducted by the Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University.
The Swine Health Information Center, launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Megan Niederwerder at [email protected] or Dr. Lisa Becton at [email protected].
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