Foot-and-mouth disease in cattle is resurfacing in Europe: could it reach Galicia?

Published May 12, 2025

Tridge summary

Galicia, Spain, is experiencing a surge in livestock diseases, with Bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) being the most prevalent. FMD, which has not been seen in Spain since 1986, has re-emerged in Europe, posing a threat to livestock. Despite the risk, experts maintain that Spain is well-prepared, with surveillance programs and contingency plans in place. FMD does not affect humans but is highly contagious and can cause significant economic loss. The 2001 UK epidemic, which involved the slaughter of millions of cattle, is often cited as a warning of the disease's potential impact.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) are two of the most talked-about livestock diseases in Galicia recently due to the outbreaks detected on various cattle farms and the harm they can cause to the animal and its owner. However, other diseases threaten the health of livestock, and among them, foot-and-mouth disease has returned to the scene. Unlike the previous diseases, it is viral and not transmitted by mosquito bites. It is characterized by being highly contagious and causing a significant economic impact. There is no need to be alarmed, as the last time an outbreak was detected in Spain was in June 1986, on a cattle farm in Talavera de la Reina, and vaccination against this virus has stopped in the country since the late 1980s. But the emergence of cases in Europe—first in Germany and now in Hungary and Slovakia—shows that the threat is real and that we must not let our guard down. Alberto Díez Guerrier, a clinical ruminant veterinarian and professor of animal ...

Source: Agromeat