The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has announced strict measures to protect Moldova's livestock sector due to foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in the region. As a result, ANSA has restricted the import of susceptible animals from Slovakia after six outbreaks were confirmed in the country. It has also imposed strict rules on imports from Hungary, allowing them only from unaffected areas, IPN reports.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection that poses a significant risk to the agricultural sector, primarily affecting cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. While it does not affect humans, the virus spreads rapidly through direct contact between animals and can cause severe losses for farmers.
In response, ANSA has launched a series of training sessions for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and farmers across all districts. They are being trained to identify symptoms and implement preventive measures. Additionally, authorities are urging farmers and livestock owners to actively cooperate by identifying and reporting any cases of illness.
To prevent the spread of the virus, ANSA is advising all citizens returning to Moldova to avoid purchasing animal-origin food products from affected regions, as these will be confiscated and destroyed at the border to prevent contamination risks.
The last recorded case of foot-and-mouth disease in Moldova was in 1982, and since 2008, the country has held the status of a disease-free zone, officially recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health.
