Foot and mouth crisis deepens in Hungary and Slovakia

The spread of the disease has led some in the governments of Hungary and Slovakia to suggest the outbreaks could be linked to bioterrorism, but without presenting any supporting scientific evidence, unregulated animal movement and the breakdown of safe trade practices are more likely causes.

A member of the Austrian Bundesheer sprays diluted formic acid on a decontamination pad at the Austria-Hungary border crossing on April 7 at Nickelsdorf, Austria. Austria has shuttered 24 border crossings to Slovakia and Hungary and is conducting decontamination efforts at others following recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in both countries. Picture: Christian Bruna/Getty Images

The difficulty of finding places to bury culled livestock sums up the horror of the continuing outbreak of foot and mouth across Hungary and Slovakia.

Last week, the Austrian authorities started testing groundwater when it discovered that some of the cattle culled from infected herds in Hungary had been buried six kilometres from the Austrian-Hungarian border. Within Hungary, there have been local objections to livestock burials.