Authorities in Slovakia have confirmed a fifth case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the country, and have assigned members of the defence forces to assist police in enforcing animal movement restrictions and decontamination of vehicles.

The latest outbreak occurred on a 3,400-head cattle farm in the municipality of Plavecky Stvrtok, which, unlike the previous four outbreaks, did not occur on the border with Hungary (where a case was discovered in early March), but in the far west of the country near the border with Austria.

However, authorities indicated that some animals on this farm had direct contact with animals on a Hungarian farm.

All 3,400 animals at the latest outbreak site will be culled. Authorities are evaluating possible locations for the disposal of carcasses.

Measures put in place after this outbreak include a ban on entry into breeding areas, as well as increased hygiene standards when entering and exiting breeding areas.

The Slovakian ministry of internal affairs has also confirmed that members of the defence forces will now be involved in the work of enforcing measure and controlling the spread, alongside the police and fire services.

The country's cabinet has agreed to allocate professional soldiers to assist the police in measures at border crossings with Hungary and Austria. These measures are primarily related to the decontamination of arriving vehicles.

The allocated soldiers will be involved in these measures until May 31, and will also be involved in maintaining public order near border crossings and guarding facilities in joint patrols with the police.

The government also agreed to provide funding of €10 million to cover the costs of enforcing the various measures.

Vehicles entering Slovakia from Hungary are now required to pass through disinfection gates at entry points along the majority of the border between the two countries.

Last week, the government of Slovakia declared an official state of emergency as part of its response to these FMD outbreaks.

Speaking after a meeting of the country's Central Crisis Staff, interior minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok said: "Declaring a state of emergency throughout the entire Slovak Republic will allow us to better coordinate forces and resources."

Slovakia has also accepted offers from neighbouring Austria and the Czech Republic to assist in decontamination efforts on the affected farms.

Over 1,500 Slovakian police officers are involved in the efforts to enforce the control measures and movement restrictions that have been put in place, while the country’s fire and rescue services are involved both in decontamination efforts and the transport of culled animal carcasses for disposal.

The Central Crisis Staff has also decided that fire and rescue service resources should also be used in the culling of animals on the affected farms.

Slovakia’s ministry of agriculture has said that the carcasses of culled animals that did not show signs of the disease will be buried, while the carcasses of animals known to be infected with FMD will be incinerated at rendering plants.