The first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 50 years has been confirmed in Slovakia and Hungary, sparking a major agricultural crisis.

Thousands of cattle in southern Slovakia, near the Hungarian border, are being culled to contain the highly contagious virus.

The Austrian military has deployed 52 personnel to assist under the EU disaster relief mechanism, aiming to prevent the disease from spreading further.

While FMD poses no risk to humans, it can devastate livestock industries, leading to significant economic losses.

Austria has heightened biosecurity measures to protect its borders and livestock.

Experts emphasize the importance of swift action to curb the outbreak and safeguard neighboring countries.