A German team has developed an mRNA vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease, showing promising results in tests on cows without adverse effects.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Germany has announced the successful testing of an experimental mRNA vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which could improve virus management. This vaccine uses fragments of the virus's genetic code, avoiding the need to manipulate live virus, making it safer. In tests, vaccinated cows showed no symptoms and shed less virus than unvaccinated cows. This is a significant achievement, given that foot-and-mouth disease severely affects animals but poses no risk to humans. Further studies are underway to approve the vaccine.