A team of Austrian soldiers deployed to Slovakia to support efforts against the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has officially returned home after completing an 11-day mission. The soldiers, part of Austria’s elite disaster relief unit AFDRU (Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit), were assisting Slovak authorities with disinfection operations at the Rusovce-Rajka border crossing with Hungary.
According to Austria’s Der Standard, as cited by TASR, the Austrian Ministry of Defense confirmed on Monday that all 53 deployed soldiers have now returned to Austria. Their mission, which began on March 26, focused on controlling the spread of the highly contagious disease by disinfecting cargo trucks entering Slovakia.
“Our troops are returning to Austria today. Their equipment will undergo maintenance, and they will remain on standby for future missions if needed,” the Austrian Defense Ministry stated.
During the operation, AFDRU personnel disinfected approximately 6,400 trucks using 25,000 liters of chemical agents and over 250,000 liters of water. The deployment was initiated following Slovakia’s request for support after FMD cases were detected near the country’s border with Hungary.
Slovak authorities expressed appreciation for the Austrian assistance, emphasizing the importance of cross-border cooperation in managing animal health threats. Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner also praised the AFDRU unit for its swift response and effectiveness in slowing the potential spread of the disease.
“In these challenging times for the agricultural sectors in both Slovakia and Austria, we have once again witnessed strong European Union solidarity,” said Minister Tanner.
The joint action highlights the importance of rapid and coordinated responses within the EU when dealing with biosecurity threats. While the Austrian unit’s mission has concluded, both countries continue to implement strict control measures to contain the outbreak and safeguard livestock industries.
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