Germany reports foot-and-mouth disease in water buffalo

Berlin: Germany on Friday reported three cases of foot and mouth disease in water buffalo on a farm near Berlin, the country s first reported cases of...

Berlin: Germany on Friday reported three cases of foot-and-mouth disease in water buffalo on a farm near Berlin, the country's first reported cases of the livestock disease since 1988.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection that is not dangerous to humans but which affects hooved animals and some other mammals including sheeps. 

Symptoms include fever and blisters in the mouth and near the hoof.

The infections were identified in the eastern state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, a state spokesman told AFP, adding that they had been confirmed by the national government's Institute for Animal Health.

Bild daily reported that the three infected animals had died, and that the rest of the herd of 11 water buffalo would be culled.