Minister Heydon Urges Vigilance Following Foot-And-Mouth Disease Outbreaks In Cattle In Slovakia

Saturday, 22 March 2025 11:40

By Lauren Gray

While Ireland remains FMD-free, the Minister stressed the importance of farmers taking extra precautions

Minister Martin Heydon, TD for Kildare South, is urging continued vigilance after Slovakia confirmed three outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle.

The outbreaks are within 20km of a recent FMD case in Hungary, making Slovakia the third country to report an outbreak of FMD in 2025.

FMD, which affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep, and pigs, causes significant economic losses but does not pose a risk to human health or food safety.

While Ireland remains FMD-free, the Minister stressed the importance of farmers staying vigilant and taking extra precautions, especially those traveling from affected countries.

Ireland’s strict controls, including a ban on imports from FMD-affected countries and a comprehensive surveillance system, are in place to protect Irish livestock across Kildare and throughout Ireland.

More from Local News

Athy Locals Praised After Elderly Dog Saved Following Dramatic Canal Lock Ordeal

The terrier battled the current for close to half an hour before getting near enough to the bank for a man - who had been walking nearby with his girlfriend - to grab a life belt and pull him out.
€4.4m Cannabis Seizure Sparks Arrests Across Kildare And Dublin

Four men have been arrested.
Survivors’ Stories And Counselling Gave Kildare Woman Maeve Leahy Strength To Speak Out About Abuse

Audio

Thomas Howard, the 79-year-old former GAA referee from Old Kilcullen, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison at Tullamore Circuit Court.
€34.5m Boost Backs Quest To Study Memory Loss And Build 3-D Biodegradable Spinal Supports

Other funded work includes discovering new yeast species in Irish ecosystems, and studying how early-life memories are lost and how this process differs in autism and between sexes, to potentially "reverse" memory loss.
Newbridge Library To Relocate Next Month Ahead Of 2026 Rebuild

Because the project will take place on the existing library site, Newbridge Community Library will temporarily close on Thursday 11 December at 8pm to allow for its relocation to Liffey Lodge, which will serve as its temporary home during the build.
13 New Gardaí For Kildare - But No Increase For Part-Time Maynooth Station

Audio

Maynooth, which is similar in size to Leixlip, still operates only a part-time Garda station and no new Gardai have been allocated to the station under the latest deployment.
Kildare’s Rain Warning Brought Forward To 9am As Remnants Of Storm Claudia Approach Ireland

A Status Orange alert for heavy rain in Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow will be in effect from 12 noon today until 8am tomorrow.
Christmas Gift Caution As E-Scooters Leading Cause Of Child Brain Injuries

Parents are being advised not to buy them for children.