Advice on foot-and-mouth disease was recently issued by the National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Ireland is currently free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Strict rules are in place to prevent the entry of FMD into Ireland and in other European countries, the NDCC said.

"Stringent measures are activated in the event of an outbreak," it said.

"Control measures are underpinned by European legislation.

"Susceptible species of live animals and animal products entering Ireland from third countries (outside Europe) must comply with stringent import control requirements and undergo inspectionin a designated border control post supervised by DAFM.

"Livestock and animal products from European countries must meet certification requirements for intra-EU trade."

FMD is one of the most contagious diseases of animals.

Biosecurity

The NDCC said that biosecurity is a "critical control measure to prevent infection with FMD".

It said that FMD could be introduced to Ireland through a number of routes.

These include illegal imports of contaminated food (meat, dairy) products.

Food waste infected with the FMD virus being consumed by FMDsusceptible animals represents the most significant risk pathwayfor a disease incursion into Ireland.

Importing of infected animals is also another route, and contaminated vehicles, equipment, clothing, footwear.

It can also be airborne and FMD can be spread up to 60km overland and 300km.

Advice for livestock owners

Advice has been issued for livestock owners.

"It is illegal to feed food waste which contains meat or may have been in contact with meat to livestock," the NDCC said.

"Food waste (swill) including kitchen waste and catering waste must be disposed of carefully away from livestock.

"Bins must be located in a secure location and sealed to ensure that vermin, birds or other animals do not carry food waste into areas where livestock are kept."

Livestock owners in Ireland are advised to implement biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of an outbreak of the disease in this country such as establishing disinfectant points.

"Anyone coming from an FMD affected region should avoid entering a farm for 14 days following arrival in Ireland to prevent the risk of contaminated clothing, footwear, vehicles or equipmentcoming into contact with livestock," the NDCC said.

"Any suspicions of FMD must be reported to the local regional veterinary office during normal office hours or the National Disease Emergency Hotline at 01 4928026 (outside of normal office hours) without delay."

Advice for travellers

Anyone arriving in Ireland following contact with susceptible species of animals in FMD affected areas must take biosecurity precautions.

The FMD virus can be brought into free areas through introduction of contaminated meat, dairy and materials such as clothing, shoes, equipment, etc.

"It is illegal to bring meat or dairy into Ireland from outside the EU," the NDCC said.

"Strict rules are in place for the importation of such products, e.g., must come from approved countries/ regions, must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate and undergo checks by officials from the DAFM in a border control post.

"Meat and dairy may not be brought into the EU as personal consignments, e.g., in airplane baggage or through the postal service."

The NDCC also urges people not to bring meat or dairy products onto Irish farms.

FMD elsewhere

An outbreak of FMD was confirmed in a cattle farm in Greece, in the area of Mantamados, Lesvos Island on March 16, 2026.

The animals showed clinical signs.

Further outbreaks have been confirmed in the island, both in sheep and cattle farms.

All strains have been confirmed to be serotype SAT1.

Since the first outbreak confirmed in the Republic of Cyprus on February 20, over 40 more outbreaks have been confirmed.

There have been no movements of FMD-susceptible species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, buffalo, camelids) into Ireland from Cyprus or Greece since November 1, 2025.

Risk

FMD virus does not pose a risk to human health or food safety.

FMD virus is found in all excretions and secretions from infected animals.

"Infected animals shed the virus in blister fluid, saliva, milk, expired air, urine and faeces," the NDCC explained.

"Animals can shed the virus before clinical signs appear.

"FMD virus is shed in very high amounts in all animal secretions(blister fluid, saliva, milk, expired air, urine, faeces,), and hence is highly transmissible."

There is currently no treatment for FMD, the NDCC said.

"Vaccination against FMD is undertaken only some countries where FMD virus is endemic.

"No routine vaccination against FMD is currently taking place in Europe."