Panic in Austria as borders shut to two countries after disease outbreak

Slovakia has closed 24 borders in a bid to prevent the spread of disease (Image: Getty)

Austria has closed 24 border crossings in a bid to stem a disease outbreak in two neighbouring countries. Hungary and Slovakia have both declared emergency situations after detecting foot-and-mouth, with the first known case dating back to March 7 in Hungary.

The highly infectious disease was found in a Hungarian dairy farm in Kisbajcs, close to the Slovakian border, with 1,372 animals at risk. Authorities deployed soldiers and implemented immediate health control measures, including the culling of livestock and introducing a restricted zone. Slovakia confirmed outbreaks on March 21 in farms close to the Hungarian border, a region important for Slovakian livestock production, and the EU Veterinary Emergency Team was deployed immediately.

Police are conducting checks at the border - including for any meat products (Image: Getty)

The disease mostly affects cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, which experience fever and mouth blisters, and an outbreak often leads to the industry restricting trade and culling livestock.

Human contraction is very rare and usually occurs through direct contact with infected animals, and there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission. The last human case reported in Britain occurred in 1966.

At the few open border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia, cars must cross over an epidemic mat to prevent the virus from spreading, which also applies to pedestrians crossing the border on foot.

Police are also searching vehicles at border points for meat products.

Cars must drive over a disinfecting mat before entering the country (Image: Getty)

Austrian authorities said it they are focusing police resource at the border during this health emergency, and preparing contingencies in case the disease is detected on one of its farms.

The European Commission has organised several meetings to monitor the situations in Slovakia and Hungary, and Austria.

The source of the outbreak remains unclear, and investigations to determine it are ongoing.