REGINA — Canada has closed its border to some German products after a Jan. 10 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in water buffalo.
Leigh Rosengren, the Canadian Cattle Association’s chief veterinary officer, said the case was found in a small backyard flock of 14 water buffalo just outside Berlin. Three head were dead, and testing determined the O strain of the disease was present. That serotype is in the vaccine bank should the country decide to vaccinate.
Germany hasn’t reported a case of FMD since 1988 and has lost its disease-free without vaccination status.
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Rosengren said the source of the outbreak hasn’t yet been found.
There aren’t a lot of cattle in the area but there is abundant wildlife, particularly wild boar.
She said during a Beef Cattle Research Council webinar that Germany’s response was swift and effective. The country immediately reported to the World Organization for Animal Health and depopulated the remaining water buffalo.
All animals within one kilometre are also being depopulated out of caution. Additional three-km and 10-km zones have been established to control movement, surveillance and tracking.
Rosengren said because the herd is a small backyard operation, the trace-in and trace-out isn’t likely to be extensive.
However, regional movement controls are in place within the state and the city of Berlin.
She said this case should give Canadian producers pause because a single detection affects trade for all at-risk commodities.
“Three water buffalo was enough to shut down the entire German pork, cattle and sheep industries, and the same would be true of us,” she said.
Canada’s border will remain closed until Germany can be declared disease-free. Products barred from import include those from any susceptible animals.
The last outbreak in Europe was reported in Bulgaria in 2011.
