Slovakia records first foot-and-mouth cases, minister says

Slovakia has detected cases of foot-and-mouth disease at three farms in the southern part of the country, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac was cited as saying by news website Dennik N and other media on Friday.

The infections are the first in half a century, and come after neighbouring Hungary reported cases earlier in March.

Foot-and-mouth disease poses no danger to humans but causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed ruminants such as cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions.