Buffaloed in Brandenburg: Germany's first brush with foot-and-mouth disease after four decades of freedom.

Authors

Michael Eschbaumer, Christoph Staubach, Florian Pfaff, Jörn Gethmann, Katja Schulz, Lisa Rogoll, Sabine Bock, Wulf-Iwo Bock, Christoph Schulze, Ronny Marquart, Nicole Reinhardt, Stephan Nickisch, Nadine Kakerow, Sabrina Freter, Annett Rudovsky, Kerstin Albrecht, Sandra Leo, Christina Haarmann, Sarah Lenz, Barbara Hoffmann, Sten Calvelage, Dirk Höper, Patrick Zitzow, Angele Breithaupt, Can Çokçalişkan, Ünal Parlak, Sharon Karniely, Laith Mohammed Salih Abdulrasool, Nick Knowles, Guillaume Girault, Aurore Romey, Labib Bakkali Kassimi, Donald P King, Christa Kühn, Carola Sauter-Louis, Martin Beer

Published in

Science advances. Volume 12. Issue 41. Pages eaeh6459. Oct 09, 2026. Epub Oct 09, 2026.

Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus is one of the most feared and most consequential pathogens of livestock worldwide. It can be spread rapidly by the transboundary movement of animals, animal products, and by-products. In January 2025, Germany detected its first FMD outbreak since 1988 in extensively reared water buffalo on a small farm in the state of Brandenburg, directly outside Berlin, the federal capital. Immediate control measures including a standstill for movements of susceptible animals and pre-emptive culling were implemented by the veterinary authorities. Whole-genome sequencing identified the virus as serotype O, topotype ME-SA, lineage SA-2018 and revealed extensive recombination, but cross-neutralization assays suggested good heterologous protection by an O/PanAsia-2 vaccine strain. Epidemiological back-calculation placed the time of virus introduction in late December 2024. Although the entry route remains unresolved, human-associated introduction is most likely. Network analysis revealed minimal farm connectivity, and simulations predicted low potential for onward transmission, which is consistent with the outbreak being ultimately restricted to a single herd. This event underscores the constant and unpredictable risk of introduction of the virus. Early detection through increased awareness and comprehensive differential diagnostics as well as the international collaboration of veterinary services, laboratories, and experts are essential in the face of the global presence of FMD.

PMID:
42853942
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Oct 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.