For 36 hours, the Austrian Armed Forces have been assisting in combating foot-and-mouth disease in Slovakia. A total of 53 soldiers from the Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU) were deployed following a request for support via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Ministry of Defense announced in a press release on Friday. On Wednesday evening, they began decontaminating large vehicles at the Slovak-Hungarian border crossing near Rajka.
Up to 25 vehicles are currently being decontaminated every hour to allow entry into Slovakia. A military representative explained that the animal disease, which originally broke out in Hungary and was first detected on the Slovak side near the Rajka crossing, is being contained to prevent its further spread in Slovakia. This also helps protect Austria, as the crossing lies in the tri-border region near Nickelsdorf, Zurndorf, and Pama in northern Burgenland. The mission is being carried out in shifts around the clock to prevent the disease from spreading to other countries.
Cross-border measures necessary
“The threat posed by foot-and-mouth disease requires swift and coordinated action across national borders,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. “As a reliable partner within the European Union, Austria is making a significant contribution to containing this animal disease in Slovakia by deploying our soldiers.” Tanner emphasized the rapid response, expertise, and readiness of the troops, calling the mission an example of European solidarity and the key role of the Austrian military in national and international crisis management.
Most of the 53 soldiers come from Styria (19), with others from Lower Austria, Vienna, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg. The unit is supported by militia personnel and operates with 18 vehicles, including six special-purpose vehicles. Every hour, 1,000 liters of water and 100 liters of disinfectant chemicals are used.
Over 700 vehicles decontaminated
By Friday morning, more than 700 vehicles had been decontaminated. Top priority remains the protection of the soldiers, civilians, and the general population, as well as the prevention of contamination spreading into Austria.
AFDRU, a special unit of the Austrian military for disaster relief operations at home and abroad, specializes in technical assistance, decontamination, and humanitarian aid. It is part of the EU’s civil protection mechanism. The unit has extensive international experience. For instance, it was deployed after the devastating 2023 earthquake on the Turkish-Syrian border and helped purify two million liters of drinking water in Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami.
