In 2025, Germany experienced its first outbreak of the disease in four decades. The outbreak affected water buffalo that were extensively reared on a small farm in the federal state of Brandenburg, just on the outskirts of Berlin. Epidemiological investigations traced the introduction of the virus back to the end of December 2024. While the exact method of introduction is unclear, it is likely that the virus was introduced by humans, for instance through the import of contaminated food from countries affected by FMD.
So where did the virus come from, and why did a major disaster fail to materialise?
Genetic analyses revealed that the FMD virus identified in Brandenburg was part of the O/ME-SA/SA-2018 viral lineage, virtually identical to a virus found in eastern Turkey at the end of November 2024. Investigations also confirmed that this viral lineage originated in South Asia, spreading across West Asia and continuing to mutate through the exchange of genetic material with other FMD viruses. Network analysis revealed minimal interconnection between livestock farms in the affected region and outbreak simulations predicted low potential for further spread. Ultimately, the German outbreak was confined to a single herd and quickly contained thanks to strict official measures.
Nevertheless, even this limited outbreak highlights the constant and unpredictable risk of the FMD virus being introduced. Given the global spread of FMD, early detection through high vigilance among livestock farmers and vets, as well as routine differential diagnosis, is just as important as taking immediate action as soon as the virus is detected. International cooperation between veterinary authorities, laboratories, and experts is also essential to this end.
Vaccination can play a key role in controlling animal diseases. In the case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in particular, the vaccine must be tailored to the specific virus causing the outbreak in order to provide protection and minimise the spread of the disease. However, under current EU legislation, animals vaccinated as part of disease control measures are ultimately culled. The German Standing Committee on Vaccination in Veterinary Medicine (StIKo Vet) therefore advocates allowing healthy, vaccinated animals to survive and be used as normal. This should be enshrined in European animal health legislation once again. A scientific commentary setting out the detailed rationale for this demand has now been published in the journal Vaccine.
The FMD virus is one of the most feared and devastating pathogens affecting ruminants and pigs worldwide. It can spread rapidly through the cross-border transport of animals, animal products, and by-products. The economic consequences are severe, as control measures include the culling of affected herds, as well as far-reaching and protracted transport and trade bans across many sectors of the agricultural, food and nutrition industries. Third countries, in particular, immediately suspend imports from affected states.
Incidentally, on 10 October 1910, Friedrich Loeffler announced the commencement of research into foot-and-mouth disease at the institute named after him, which is now located on the Island of Riems. Even 116 years later, the issue of FMD remains as relevant as ever.
Buffaloed in Brandenburg: Germany’s first Brush with Foot-and-Mouth Disease after four Decades of Freedom
Michael Eschbaumer, Christoph Staubach, Florian Pfaff, Jörn Gethmann, Katja Schulz, Lisa Rogoll, Sabine Bock, Wulf-Iwo Bock, Christoph Schulze, Ronny Marquart, Nicole Reinhardt, Stephan Nickisch, Nadine Kakerow, Sabrina Freter, Annett Rudovsky, Kerstin Albrecht, Sandra Leo, Christina Haarmann, Sarah Lenz, Barbara Hoffmann, Sten Calvelage, Dirk Höper, Patrick Zitzow, Angele Breithaupt, Can Çokçalişkan, Ünal Parlak, Sharon Karniely, Laith Mohammed Salih Abdulrasool, Nick Knowles, Guillaume Girault, Aurore Romey, Labib Bakkali Kassimi, Donald P. King, Christa Kühn, Carola Sauter-Louis, Martin Beer
bioRxiv 2026.03.30.713672; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.30.713672
Martin Ganter, Müller Kerstin, J. Böttcher, K. Donat, M. Eschbaumer, J. Gethmann, M. Holsteg, J. Hilke, L. Kreienbrock, M. Bastian, U. Truyen, C.G. Baums, S. Rautenschlein: Reconsidering vaccinate-to-live strategies in EU foot-and-mouth disease control
Vaccine, Volume 93, 2026, 129217, ISSN 0264-410X,
