Osnabrück is preparing for an FMD emergency with a large-scale exercise!

Osnabrück is preparing for an FMD emergency with a large-scale exercise!

In an impressive demonstration of unity and professionalism, all Lower Saxony veterinary offices today carried out a comprehensive exercise in the event of a possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). The situation is particularly explosive due to the recent outbreaks in Brandenburg, which increases the pressure to act, as Osnabrück Stärkt reports. The focus of this year's exercise was the response to a fictitious outbreak on two neighboring farms in Bramsche.

During such exercises it becomes clear that preparing for such an emergency is by no means a piece of cake. The veterinary service's tasks included the rapid establishment of exclusion zones, the organization of investigation teams and consideration of possible emergency vaccinations. “There’s something there,” you might think, because the threat of foot-and-mouth disease can have devastating effects on livestock and agriculture. The animal disease has the ability to spread rapidly and affect not only individual farms but entire regions.

Civil protection included for the first time

As part of this exercise, the Osnabrück district disaster control team was involved for the first time in order to test interdisciplinary cooperation. After two and a half days of intensive practice, the veterinary service came to a positive conclusion: The processes have proven successful, but potential for optimization was also identified. The aim is for the Osnabrück district to be even better prepared for an emergency in the future. The hope remains that such simulation games do not have to become reality.

State of foot and mouth disease in Europe

But what are the risks? Information from Niedersachsen Tierseucheninfo shows that the last outbreaks in Slovakia and Hungary in March and April took place in 2025, but no further incidents have been reported since then. Germany, on the other hand, has regained the WOAH status “FMD-free without vaccination” since April 14, 2025, which brings some relief for farmers.

But the danger has not been averted. There is an increased risk of introduction of the foot-and-mouth disease virus, highlighting the urgency of biosecurity measures. This includes strict regulations for transport operators, who must ensure that their means of transport are in perfect condition. LKO emphasizes that operators in contact with susceptible animals must carry out risk assessments of the spread of animal diseases in order to take preventive action against an outbreak.

Prevention and biosecurity in focus

In addition, extensive requirements for cleaning and disinfecting the locations are set for events such as trade fairs or animal shows. The recommendation that has proven best is to design access conditions in such a way that carers of susceptible animals can only enter the farm in protective clothing.

The ongoing efforts of the veterinary services in Lower Saxony are not only of regional relevance, but also show how important it is to strengthen disease prevention in European cooperation. Finally, it remains to be hoped that this intensive preparation will not be necessary and that the MKS remains an impressive example of practical crisis management.