Czechs take further precautions against foot and mouth disease

To prevent possible spread of foot and mouth to the Czech Republic, authorities have started disinfecting all vehicles entering the country.

Tourists coming from Germany, Poland and Austria, will also have to hand over all animal food.

On border crossings for pedestrians, tourists will have to clean their shoes on special disinfection carpets.

Josef Duben, spokesman for the veterinary authority, says the measure was taken in reaction to possible occurrence of the disease on a farm in Lower Saxony.

"Although final tests are not yet available, we want to be on the safe side," Duben said.

Earlier this month, authorities installed special rugs soaked with a disinfectant for tourists from Britain and Northern Ireland at the Prague international Ruzyne airport, following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in that country.

The last foot-and-mouth outbreak in the Czech Republic occurred in 1975.