Slovakia has declared an emergency situation following the discovery of foot-and-mouth disease on three farms in the southern part of the country, the government announced on Tuesday.

This declaration will facilitate the implementation of measures to contain the spread of the disease, which has not been seen in Slovakia for over 50 years.

The infections, discovered last week, come shortly after neighbouring Hungary reported its own outbreak earlier this month. While foot-and-mouth disease does not affect humans, it poses a serious threat to livestock, causing fever and painful mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. Outbreaks often result in trade restrictions, which can severely impact the agricultural industry.

Authorities are taking swift action to curb the spread, including quarantining affected farms and closely monitoring nearby regions. The government is also likely to impose further restrictions on animal movement as part of the containment strategy.

The outbreak highlights ongoing concerns about the spread of animal diseases in Europe and the need for swift responses to protect both livestock health and the agricultural economy.

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