Czech Republic’s Woodlands Implement Urgent Veterinary Actions in Moravia
Due to the reported cases of disease in Slovakia and Hungary, the State Veterinary Administration has announced that starting from Friday, March 28, 2025, public access to all nine areas of the Forests of the Czech Republic located in the South Moravian, Zlín, and Moravian-Silesian regions is now banned. Additionally, Czech Forests are stepping up their monitoring of wildlife in 35 managed areas throughout the country.
It is very important to ensure the safety of wildlife in regions that might be at risk. This involves implementing disinfection procedures, actively looking for dead animals, investigating the causes of their deaths, and putting restrictions on access for the public. The Czech Forests will be installing disinfection zones at the entrances to these wildlife areas, where all vehicles must pass through. They will disinfect the wheels and cargo areas of the vehicles that are bringing in feed as well. It’s important to note that people can unintentionally spread infection on their footwear.
Foot and Mouth Disease is recognized as one of the most highly contagious infectious diseases. This illness affects all hooved animals, although it is not typically deadly for adults. However, it poses significant risks to domestic livestock such as cattle, pigs, and sheep. The causing agent of this disease is an RNA virus, known for its remarkable infectious nature. The virus can spread not only through direct contact with infected animals but also through bodily fluids and even through airborne particles. If any animals within a game preserve are suspected to be infected, officials will take decisive action regarding the future management of that breeding area. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, excessive drooling, and lameness, with blisters forming in the mouth area and between the lower limbs. The incubation period can vary from one to 14 days. While this disease does not have a high death rate, it does result in a considerable amount of sickness. Incubation can last anywhere from one day to two weeks. The disease is not transmissible to humans directly; however, humans can unknowingly carry a mutated form of the virus to healthy animals. It is important to note that this disease was last identified in the Czech Republic in 1975.
