Due to the detection of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth illness in Hungary, Poland introduced temporary checks at border crossing points with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Polish veterinary services stay on constant alert to prevent the spread of this contagious disease. But can foot-and-mouth transfer to humans?
According to the Chief Sanitary Inspector, people may be infected, but foot-and-mouth illness in humans occurs sporadically and their course is mild. foot-and-mouth illness is simply a viral illness of home and chaotic cloven-hoofed animals, which causes a virus of the genus Aphtovirus, belonging to the household Picornaviridae. The most susceptible to infection is cattle, then pigs, sheep and goats.
The last case of this illness in Poland was found in 1971. Pimple besides appeared earlier in Germany. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and agrarian Development, in 2020 Polish farms had over 5.5 million head of cattle, accounting for about 10% of the full number of cattle in the European Union.
Temporary checks at border crossing points shall be carried out to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The checks are carried out at 3 border crossing points with Slovakia: in Chyżne, Niedzica and Piwniczna, as well as at border crossing points with the Czech Republic in Trzebini-Bartultovice and in Dłuchołaza-Mikulovice.
Veteran Maciej Perzyna said in topagrar.pl that foot-and-mouth illness is simply a serious threat to cattle and pigs. According to him, the disturbing fact is that we inactive don't know where the virus got to the farms located at specified a immense distance. It recommends refraining from buying animals from an unknown source, the best choice will be the animals from the nearest area.
Humans may be infected by direct contact with a diseased animal that excretes the virus. Another way of possible contamination is the consumption of natural meat contaminated with a meat pathogen, containing non-pasteurized milk viruses and non-pasteurised milk products. The incubation period in humans is 2-12 days, on average 3-4 days.
Symptoms include vesicular lesions on the membranes of the mouth, on the skin of hands/foots, but besides fever, sore throat, headache. The course of illness is mild and ends in recovery within 1-2 weeks. No cases of human transmission have been reported.
In connection with foot-and-mouth disease, Polish veterinary services call on farmers and breeders to take additional precautions, specified as animal control prior to their introduction to the holding, regular clinical and laboratory tests of animals, as well as the usage of bioinsurance measures. Additionally, the Chief Sanitary Inspector recommends that people avoid direct contact with sick animals and not consume natural contaminated meat, milk and milk products.
According to the data of the Central Statistical Office, in 2020 Polish animal breeding generated about 40% of agricultural income. Pryszczyca can so have a crucial impact on the Polish economy, especially on cattle farmers and pigs. It is so crucial that all farmers and farmers be aware of the hazard of infection and take appropriate precautions to avoid the spread of foot-and-mouth illness in Poland.
