MKS: Another country affected by highly contagious animal disease

For the first time, a case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has been confirmed in Turkey: SAT1 serotype affects cattle in the border region with Iraq. Weather and transportation are also in focus.

After Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia, another country has been affected by the highly contagious Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). In the southeastern Anatolian border region with Iraq, symptoms of FMD were first detected in cattle on several agricultural farms on April 30, 2025. During the spring vaccination, noticeable signs of the disease such as increased salivation and blister formation in the mouth and nose area occurred.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) based in Paris, samples were taken on the same day for further examination at the Turkish FMD Institute. The clinical diagnosis confirmed the outbreak of the animal disease on April 30, but it was only on May 12, 2025, that the virus was identified more precisely as Serotype SAT 1.

FMD in Turkey: Suspected Wind Transmission from Iraq

According to WOAH, there is suspicion that the pathogen was carried into the affected areas by strong winds from neighboring regions, possibly from Iraq. The proximity to border villages and recent stormy weather conditions support this assumption. Furthermore, it is being investigated whether illegal animal transports could have contributed to the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

Sign up for the agrarheute newsletter!

We will inform you every working day about the top topics of the day.

By signing up for the newsletter, you acknowledge the privacy policy. You will receive the agrarheute newsletter until further notice. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time using the link provided in the newsletter.