Austria closed twenty-four crossings along its borders with Slovakia and Hungary over the weekend, in a bid to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering the country.
Austrian health authorities are conducting rigorous checks at the few open border crossings that remain open. The measures will last until May 20th.
The first foot-and-mouth outbreak in 50 years in Hungary led the country last week to deploy soldiers and launch disinfection measures to contain it in an area bordering Slovakia and Austria.
The disease, which poses no danger to humans, mostly affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals like swine, sheep, and goats, causing fever and mouth blisters. Outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions and culls of some livestock.
Slovakia declared an emergency situation last week after the disease was found on three farms.
