The cold front reached Lake Balaton on Friday and caused a serious shift in the lake’s water level. The difference measured between the two parts of the ‘Hungarian Sea’ reached 51 centimetres.
According to Infóstart, the average water level of Lake Balaton was 98 centimetres on Friday. However, the extreme values of that average were astonishingly high: 80 centimetres in Balatonfűzfő and 132 centimetres in Balatonmáriafürdő.
Ákos Horváth, leader of the Siófok observatory, told HírBalaton that the strongest wind blew at 90 km/h on 10 January. In a historical comparison, that is not regarded as very high. Mr Horváth said wind speed, wind direction and durability determine whether the lake gets shifted. He added that, regularly, southwestern winds cause higher shifts in the Balaton’s water level, but this cold front arrived from the North.
The meteorologist added that the cold would last until Wednesday, but since the Balaton’s water temperature reached 5 degrees, it is not expected to freeze.
We wrote before that Cyclone Boris in September 2024 also shifted the Hungarian Sea. Experts measured significantly different water levels on the two shores of the lake then, as well, with the southern side 33 centimetres higher than the northern side. While the water level at Siófok was 109 centimetres, on the other side, at Badacsony, it was only 76 centimetres.
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A recent survey uncovers which Hungarian counties lead in happiness and which lag behind, revealing key factors such as financial security, age, and marital status that shape overall satisfaction.
About the survey
Pénzcentrum has conducted its yearly survey to find out which are the happiest and the least happy Hungarian counties. Based on responses from nearly 11,000 participants, the study highlights that factors like age, marital status, occupation, and financial stability significantly influence happiness. In addition, Hungarians felt slightly better in 2024 compared to the previous year. Happiness is crucial for societal and economic well-being, boosting productivity, creativity, and public health while attracting tourism and driving economic growth. As inflation slows, real wages rise, and labour market pressures ease, life in Hungary appears more manageable.
The happiest Hungarian counties
The average happiness score in Hungary has risen slightly to 5.8 from last year’s 5.7, with notable regional variations among Hungarian counties. Somogy and Vas counties lead the happiness rankings, while Nógrád consistently ranks last. Vas retained its top position, and Somogy made a remarkable leap from 19th to second place. Pest county also improved significantly, moving from 9th to 3rd, while Győr-Moson-Sopron and Zala counties slipped in the rankings.
Furthermore, gender and demographic differences reveal that women are generally happier than men, older individuals are happier than younger ones, and entrepreneurs report higher happiness than public sector workers, who scored the lowest with an average of 4.1. Married people and those with children reported greater happiness compared to single or childless respondents.
Kaposvár, Somogy County.
Photo: depositphotos.com
Healthcare and financial situation determine happiness
Hungary faces significant challenges in public health, ranking second to last among EU countries, with the healthcare crisis posing a critical threat due to doctor shortages, limited access to free medical care, and lengthy waiting times. Despite these issues, satisfaction with health has slightly improved, with Hungarian counties like Pest and Vas, as well as Budapest, reporting the highest satisfaction, while Nógrád remains the least satisfied.
Source: depositphotos.com
Financial security emerges as a key determinant of happiness, as regions with higher average incomes, such as the capital, Pest, and Győr-Moson-Sopron, report the greatest financial contentment. Education and occupation also play a role, with individuals with higher education and professions such as employees, civil servants, and pensioners feeling more financially secure. However, despite rising wages and slowed inflation, overall financial satisfaction remains modest, with last year’s average score unchanged at 5.5.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of the recent fire that destroyed our property. It’s hard to find the words when you’re faced with something like this. The flames took so much, but we’re holding on to the memories that live on in our hearts”, Lívia Pillmann, a Hungarian top model writer, producer and award-winning actress, wrote on Instagram about the devastation. She also shared some shocking images, but does not blame anybody.
Hungarian top model’s house toasted in Malibu
According to the top model’s post, not only the entire house was destroyed, but also her car and the garden were covered in waste. “Devastation of the Palisades Fire. Still cannot believe what happened”, she wrote on Instagram. She shared many photos of her house and the garden.
“Swipe through these pictures to see the aftermath. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength we find in the most difficult moments.
Photo: Instagram/Lívia Pillmann
Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support. We’re taking it one day at a time and are incredibly grateful for the people who have surrounded us with care.”
According to her website, Lívia is not only a top model but also an award-winning actress, producer and writer. “Her acting skills, looks, and professionalism have quickly made her one of Hollywood’s freshest, exciting and unique talents”, the website’s introduction reads. In 2024, she starred with Kevin Spacey in a psychological thriller titled The Contract.
A Hungarian lady horseback rider conquering Hollywood
“Originally from Hungary, Livia has called Los Angeles home for the last six years. She began her ascent in Hollywood initially as an international top model who, besides gracing scores of magazine covers, has also appeared in dozens of commercials worldwide. During the course of the last years, she has focused on storytelling and honing her skills, including in martial arts, singing, weaponry and horseback riding.
Her passions outside of movies include inspiring others to succeed and to pursue their dreams. She volunteers most of her time and travels the globe to help mentor abused, young women and teaches them meditation and relaxation techniques. She is also the Ambassador for Protection4kids, a nonprofit organisation, focusing on combating violence against children. In December 2022, she spent two weeks in Nepal on a humanitarian mission teaching almost a hundred abused girls a relaxation technique that releases trauma and stress, called Access Bars and is currently producing a documentary that shares the personal plights of these children.”
At least ten people have already died in the wildfires, which have burned down thousands of buildings. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated.
In a podcast, Mel Gibson, who also shared some shocking images about his gone home, slammed California governor Gavin Newsom for the devastation. He said Newsom claimed he was “going to take care of the forests” but “didn’t do anything”. “I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel,” the actor added.
The first phase of the revamp of the railway line running between Budapest and Austria took place between 2 and 11 January successfully. The second phase started today and it will modify not only the schedule of the passenger trains commuting between the Hungarian capital and Sopron or Szombathely, but also the international trains carrying passengers on one of Hungary’s busiest lines.
Dangerous trees and bushes
According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, train timetables on railway line nr 1 will change temporarily due to the scheduled maintenance of the overhead line the felling of dangerous trees and removing some threatening bushes growing too close to the railway track. In the first phase, between 2 and 11 January, the employees of the Hungarian railway company completed the works between Budaörs and Biatorbágy. The second phase started today and they are working between Kelenföld and Budaörs until next Sunday.
Photo: FB/MÁV
Due to the work, the timetables of the S10, G10, and S12 passengers and fast trains will be modified. Furthermore, InterCity trains running to Sopron and Szombathely and international EuroCity, EuroNight and Railjet trains will also commute following a different schedule. According to MÁV, their schedule will be modified only by minutes and mainly in the early morning hours.
Railway track revamp modifies the schedule of international trains
Csárdás EuroCity (EC 144) from Keleti railway station to Vienna and Lehár EuroCity (EC 340) will leave Keleti 5 minutes earlier, at 12:35 and 6:35 PM instead of 12:40 and 6:40 PM. They will leave Kelenföld station 6 minutes earlier than usual. Trains will commute from Tatabánya following their original schedule.
The Keleti railway station. Photo: FB/MÁV
EuroCity, EuroNight and Railjet trains coming to Budapest, with the exception of the last two trains, EC 341 and RJX 261, will arrive at Kelenföld station 3-6 minutes later and at Keleti railway station 9 minutes later than their regular schedule. MÁV added that the S12 passenger train between Budapest and Oroszlány would commute on a shorter route.
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It is a good thing to attend university in Hungary today, the culture and innovation minister said at the Educatio expo in Budapest on Saturday, adding that being a university student today was “cool”.
Hungarian higher education institutions are “excellent”
Hungarian higher education institutions are “excellent” and are at the sharp end of the international field, Balázs Hankó said. Currently 12 Hungarian universities are in the top five percent in the global rankings, three are in the top two percent and one in the top one percent, the minister said. He added that it was a realistic goal to have at least one Hungarian university ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions and several among the top 100 European universities by 2030.
Photo: FB/Educatio
There are 330,000 students in Hungarian higher education today, 46,000 of whom are international students, Hanko said, pointing out that Hungarian universities are also competitive at an international level. As regards scholarships, he said an annual allocation of 100 billion forints (EUR 241.8m) to 50 scholarship programmes reaches around 260,000 students, and these schemes are constantly being expanded.
University degree means shorter job finding time
He said that the Pannónia Programme has so far helped some 3,000 Hungarian students take courses at the world’s leading universities, and that number will reach 8,000 by the end of this academic year.
Photo: FB/Tempus
The minister said those with higher-education degrees find jobs in 42 days on average. The government, he noted, had a six-year financing contract with the universities. Speaking with students at the ministry’s stand at the expo, Hankó said the aim was for Hungarian universities to offer practice-oriented training.
Veronika Varga-Bajusz, the state secretary for higher education and adult training, said the government currently spends 11 billion forints on academic scholarships, reaffirming that it was worth reviewing the current system and developing a motivating scholarship system.
In recent years, the position of the Hungarian passport has been stable at the top. Last year, for example, Hungary was still in 7th place with the United States and Canada, with 188 visa-free destinations.
The Hungarian passport still ranks highly in international rankings, providing significant benefits to the country’s citizens. According to the Henley Passport Index 2025, Hungary is ranked 8th, tied with the Czech Republic. This means that Hungarian citizens can now travel visa-free to 187 countries, offering unique opportunities for travellers, whether for tourism, business or study. Although Hungary has slipped down one place in the ranking compared to last year, our passports are still among the most valuable documents in the world.
The value of the Hungarian passport in the European ranking
In the European Union, and in particular in the Schengen area, Hungary’s passport has a strong position. In the region, Hungarian passport holders can travel almost unhindered, which is a particularly important advantage in terms of economic and cultural relations.
In Henley’s ranking, Hungary competes with countries such as France, Germany and Italy, which are among the leaders. These countries offer visa-free access to more than 190 destinations. Other countries in a similar position to Hungary, such as the Czech Republic, also grant significant freedom of movement to their citizens.
The Henley index not only ranks passports, but also highlights inequalities in global travel freedom. The top countries on the list, like Hungary, offer their citizens almost unlimited opportunities, while countries at the bottom of the list, such as Afghanistan or Syria, offer visa-free travel to only a few destinations. For Hungarian citizens, this global freedom is an advantage in many areas of life, be it for work, study or tourism.
Other rankings
According to Index, in addition to the Henley index, other rankings of passports around the world take different criteria into account. The Arton Capital Passport Index, for example, ranks the passport of the United Arab Emirates at the top, with Hungary in twenty-first place with 177 points. Nomad Capitalist provides an even more comprehensive analysis, taking into account the tax regime, the possibility of dual citizenship, global perception and personal freedom. Hungary is ranked twenty-fourth in this ranking, which remains a commendable achievement.
In order to maintain and further develop the global position of the Hungarian passport, it is important that the country maintains its diplomatic relations and adapts to international travel rules. The geopolitical and economic situation in the world is changing rapidly, which may pose new challenges in the future. However, Hungary’s strong position provides a solid basis to continue to guarantee its citizens a wide range of travel freedoms.
The Mészáros Group has acquired Pastrami, a restaurant in the north of the capital. The restaurant has been loss-making since the coronavirus pandemic. Following the acquisition, they hope that the restaurant will be profitable again and will be able to maintain all workplaces.
Mészáros Group said it aimed to preserve the brand, established in 2009, upgrade the restaurant and ensure its operation in the long term. Mészáros Group member Talentis Group acquired Pastrami Ltd., the restaurant’s operator, and Monyó Holding Ltd, which owns the restaurant property.
Photo: FB/Pastrami
The Pastrami Restaurant in Budapest is well-known for its New York pastrami sandwich, a speciality of the American metropolis with Central European origins. The sandwich is made of pastrami meat, an ingredient produced with specific know-how, of which the place uses 6-800 kilograms per year.
The kitchen with Gyula Bence Nagy, the chef (r). Photo: FB/Pastrami
Budapest’s Pastrami restaurant on the market for 15 years
Világgazdaság wrote that the restaurant is family-friendly and dog-friendly, hosting even family and business events. It has been serving the residents of Budapest’s 3rd district and many tourists since 2009.
Photo: FB/PastramiPhoto: FB/Pastrami
Check out their menu HERE, and their drinks by clicking HERE.
Photo: FB/Pastrami
We wrote HERE about the newest list of the wealthiest Hungarians led by Lőrinc Mészáros, the owner of the Mészáros Group. Mészáros is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s childhood friend, who boasted a fortune of more than HUF 1 trillion (EUR 2.44 billion) in 2024. His wealth has increased by more than 107%, driven by stock market transactions and public investments.
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The closure of the border crossing between Ágfalva, Hungary, and Schattendorf, Austria, has been declared unconstitutional by the Burgenland Administrative Court. The municipality of Schattendorf introduced the closure in 2023, citing a pedestrian zone project, forcing Hungarian commuters to take a 30-kilometre detour.
According to Telex, the international law firm NZP Nagy Legal filed a lawsuit against the municipality, arguing that the closure violated EU law and constitutional principles. The court agreed, identifying multiple issues, including the lack of public consultation, the municipality’s lack of authority to enact the closure, and the absence of road safety justification. Instead, the closure was found to target commuter traffic explicitly.
Further concerns arose over the integrity of the expert opinion supporting the closure. The expert, reportedly a personal acquaintance of Schattendorf’s mayor, lacked relevant traffic engineering qualifications. The court deemed the opinion inconsistent and unsubstantiated. Additionally, the closure was criticised for infringing on the constitutional principle of equality before the law. While some individuals could pay a EUR 160 fee for exceptional crossing rights, most requests were denied, even in cases of work or family ties.
The Austrian Constitutional Court will now review the case to determine if the municipality’s decree should be annulled. This ruling is seen as a significant step toward addressing what critics have called a “modern iron curtain” in the region.
The “Black Angel of Pécs,” a clinical nurse, has been sentenced to 12.5 years in prison without the possibility of parole for causing the death of an 82-year-old coronavirus patient in December 2022, the Pécs Regional Court of Appeal ruled.
The court reduced the original 14-year sentence handed down by the Pécs District Court but confirmed the decision to permanently ban the convict from working in healthcare. The nurse, who had been employed at the Internal Medicine Clinic in Pécs since November 2022, administered a lethal dose of potassium to the elderly patient, leading to his death from heart failure just hours later. The nurse took advantage of an unmonitored moment to inject the patient with the potassium, which had been prepared by the shift leader for a different procedure.
The court’s decision also took into account both aggravating and mitigating circumstances, with the convict’s permanent disqualification from healthcare work seen as a safeguard to prevent further crimes of a similar nature.
According to an earlier statement from the police, a Moldovan man previously convicted of human smuggling caused a severe car accident in Budapest, injuring a seven-member family, including children, before fleeing the scene. The crash occurred on 5 January in Budapest’s XXII district, where the man ran a red light and collided with the family’s vehicle. However, later, the Budapest police clarified that the driver responsible for the accident was not the Moldovan human smuggler previously released under Hungary’s emergency regulations. Instead, the culprit was his brother, a 27-year-old Moldovan identified as T.S., who bears a striking resemblance to his sibling. The two brothers reportedly used each other’s documents interchangeably, further complicating identification
Human smuggler convicted but released
Previously, it was reported that the driver, identified as Tiganciuc Calin, had a history of human smuggling, including transporting five Nepali migrants illegally through Hungary in March 2024, Blikk reports. He was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison and banned from Hungary for nearly eight years. However, despite being excluded from parole eligibility, he was released under special reintegration rules. This policy, introduced by the Hungarian government, mandates that convicted human smugglers leave the country within 72 hours of their release.
Later, during a press conference on Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Krisztián Léránt of the Budapest Police Traffic Enforcement Department confirmed the new details. T.S., who is now the subject of an arrest warrant, is also suspected of involvement in other crimes. However, due to the ongoing investigation, no further information was disclosed. The previously expelled brother was confirmed to have been in Moldova at the time of the accident and remains there currently.
T.S., the brother of Tiganciuc Calin. Photo: police.hu
The tragic accident
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, when T.S., fleeing from the police in an Audi S8, ran a red light and collided with another car in Budapest’s XXII District. The fleeing driver abandoned the scene without checking on the victims. Tragically, the occupants of the other car—a family of seven, including children—suffered injuries, with two of them in serious condition. In their pursuit of the perpetrator, investigators discovered a key belonging to a hotel or Airbnb accommodation at the accident site, which may provide leads in the search for T.S.
Misreporting and official clarifications
Initial reports suggested that the driver was the human smuggler previously convicted and released due to emergency regulations. This individual had been involved in a human trafficking network smuggling migrants into Western Europe. However, police confirmed that the fugitive driver is not the same person. This revelation has shifted the focus of the investigation and raised questions about the brothers’ coordinated activities and use of falsified or shared documents to evade authorities.
Criticism from opposition
The case has drawn sharp political criticism. Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party, accused the government of endangering public safety by releasing thousands of human smugglers from prison under its reintegration policy. He claimed the decision directly contributed to the tragic incident and called on the prime minister to take responsibility for the policy.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the crash and searching for the fugitive, while the victims, including children, are recovering from their injuries. The incident has intensified the debate over Hungary’s controversial reintegration policy for human smugglers.
Starting this Friday, the maximum permitted speed on nearly the entire stretch of Budapest’s Buda lower embankment, from Tímár Street to the Rákóczi Bridge, will be reduced to a uniform 50 km/h (31 m/h). The measure, announced by the Budapest Transport Center (BKK) on Thursday, aims to enhance road safety and reduce accidents.
Enhancing safety with lower speed limits
The decision aligns with the traffic safety strategy adopted by the Budapest City Council. Between 2019 and 2023, 51 traffic accidents involving personal injury occurred along this stretch, including one fatality, 15 serious injuries, and 35 minor injuries. Additionally, the embankment sees heavy pedestrian traffic near popular tourist destinations like the Angelo Rotta Promenade and the A38 Ship, BKK writes.
The new speed limit will replace the previous mix of 70 km/h and 50 km/h zones along the 8-kilometer section. The only exception will be around the designated pedestrian crossing and bike path near Nagyszombat Street, where a lower speed limit of 40 km/h will remain in effect.
Minimal impact on travel times
BKK emphasised that the change will have little effect on travel times, as congestion during the day already limits speeds to around 50 km/h or less. Travel times on the embankment are primarily influenced by the capacity of intersections and traffic volume. During off-peak hours at night or early morning, when 70 km/h was previously possible, the new limit is expected to significantly reduce noise pollution.
Data-driven planning for safer roads
The speed limit reduction was carefully planned, incorporating insights from BKK’s predictive modelling system. This artificial intelligence-based tool analysed five years of data to identify high-risk areas where speed limits contribute significantly to collision risks. The model’s recommendations helped prioritise this intervention as part of broader efforts to ensure safer roads for all users, including pedestrians.
BKK underscored that the measure could save lives, particularly those of vulnerable road users, and aligns with the city’s broader commitment to traffic safety. The change is expected to improve not only safety but also the overall experience for residents and visitors along the Buda lower embankment.
Budapest’s public transportation system is getting a major upgrade with the introduction of the new CAF trams. These modern, low-floor vehicles have started their initial testing phase, and they will be ready for passengers once they successfully complete the required 1,000-kilometer trial runs and pass all necessary inspections by transport authorities. Check out a gallery of the photos taken of the new CAF trams below!
The CAF fleet, which consists of 51 new trams, will significantly increase the proportion of low-floor trams in Budapest, from the current 30% to nearly 40%, BKK reports. The first of these trams has already begun testing without passengers, as part of the rigorous vetting process, which includes checking critical systems like brakes, air conditioning, and software for door operations.
These high-tech trams, manufactured in Zaragoza, Spain, are designed with an upgraded climate control system and a newly developed, more efficient body structure. The new vehicles offer a more comfortable ride, with enhanced features compared to the older CAF trams already in use in the city.
Following successful testing, the trams will undergo a mandatory 1,000-kilometer trial run. Once this is completed, along with flawless performance during an official inspection, the trams will be handed over to the Budapest Public Transport Center (BKK) and enter passenger service. Initially, the new vehicles will operate on the southern Pest lines, where they will boost the number of low-floor trams, making public transport even more accessible to all passengers, including those with mobility issues.
Ongoing fleet renewal
As part of an ongoing fleet renewal program, the addition of these new CAF trams will also allow for an expansion of low-floor vehicles on existing routes. The upgrades will affect the following tram lines in the future: 1, 14, 42, 50, and 69. Furthermore, with the full deployment of all 51 new trams, the modern vehicles will be seen on the 2, 23, and 24 tram lines, as well as the 51A and 62 lines—assuming that necessary EU funding and infrastructure improvements are secured.
The full fleet is expected to be in service by the end of 2026, with plans for even more modern trams to be added to the city’s transport network in the coming years. In fact, the BKK is already working on a tender to bring over 100 additional new trams to Budapest by 2030. With these updates, Budapest’s public transportation is set to become more efficient and comfortable, providing a state-of-the-art travel experience for residents and visitors alike.
Hungarian higher education is “cool”, providing success, competitiveness, career and experiences, the culture and innovation minister said at the opening event of the Educatio expo in Budapest on Thursday.
In an effort to help young people have a vision of the future, the government had reformed higher education and completed a “competitiveness turnaround” in the sector, Balázs Hankó said. “Our aim is to have a Hungarian university among the top 100 institutions in the world.” The developments are strengthening the Hungarian economy, and “making our everyday life better”, Hankó said.
Applications to higher education were at a record high in the past decade and courses are becoming increasingly diverse, with 17 new MA courses launched this year alone, he said. One Hungarian university is among the top 1% in the world, and 12 are listed in the top 2%, he added. The government’s 100 billion forint (EUR 240.9 million) scholarship scheme is helping 260,000 students, he added. Meanwhile, the Pannonia programme is offering them access to the best universities in the world, he added.
In a significant triumph for wildlife conservation, twin Sumatran tiger cubs, one of the rarest tiger subspecies (and the rarest animals) in the world, have been born at the Nyíregyháza Zoo in Hungary. These healthy male cubs are the result of a decade-long European breeding collaboration aimed at saving this critically endangered species.
According to the zoo’s director, László Gajdos, the quest to find the ideal tiger pair began in 2015. After several setbacks, including miscarriages and stillbirths, success came with a match between Gio, a 13-year-old male, and Sabah, a 4-year-old female. Sabah gave birth to the cubs in December 2024. On January 7th, the four-week-old cubs underwent their first veterinary check-up. The team weighed the cubs at 5 kg and 4.6 kg, administered their initial vaccines, and gave them deworming treatments, the Nyíregyháza Zoo reports. Each cub was also equipped with a unique identifier.
Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) are the smallest and southernmost of the six living tiger subspecies. They are native to the lowlands and mountainous forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. The solitary predators primarily hunt medium-sized herbivores. Their numbers have dwindled due to habitat destruction and poaching, pushing the species to the brink of extinction. In the 1970s, the wild population was estimated at 1,000, but today only 400–500 remain in the wild. Another 280 live in zoos worldwide, including four at Nyíregyháza Zoo.
The newborns are now part of the zoo’s Victoria House (Viktória Ház) exhibit, which showcases endangered animals. Visitors can catch their first glimpse of the cubs starting this weekend. This rare birth is a testament to the dedication of conservationists and the importance of international cooperation in saving critically endangered species.
Military equipment from the Hungarian Defence Forces is expected to be seen near the Bálna Defence Centre in Budapest on Thursday afternoon. The vehicles are being transported to the Bálna for the launch of a new military-themed sports reality show, the Ministry of Defence (HM) announced on Wednesday.
According to the statement, brief appearances of military vehicles, increased noise levels, and temporary restrictions lasting up to 30 minutes should be expected in the area around the Bálna Defence Centre on Thursday between 3:20 PM and 4:00 PM, as well as during a rehearsal earlier in the day.
The military convoy will travel along the Pest embankment, from the northern side of Liberty Bridge to the Bálna, escorted by military police. The ministry urged the public to approach this route with heightened caution. The military equipment, including Gidrán armoured vehicles, will depart from the Mária Terézia Barracks at 9:30 AM and head to the Bálna Defence Centre. The vehicles are expected to leave downtown Budapest, and subsequently the city, in the evening, the statement added.
During the holiday season and at the beginning of the year, the number of people visiting their doctors with respiratory symptoms was particularly high. Data shows that the number of respiratory cases exceeded the epidemic threshold weeks ago, with many patients suffering from HMPV infection.
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus, which has recently received more attention as the number of cases has started to rise. According to Index, it causes flu-like symptoms and can even lead to pneumonia as a complication. Hungarian National surveillance services are detecting the presence of the virus on a weekly basis, and more and more people in Hungary are falling ill.
Source: Pixabay
How does it spread and how does it affect the Hungarian population?
The spread of HMPV is not unexpected, as the population’s immunity has been low for a long time due to the closures during the COVID-19 outbreak. According to 24.hu, the virus is now “catching up” for the two to three years when people were not regularly exposed to respiratory pathogens. As a result, the population is more susceptible to infection and the disease is occurring in larger waves.
Hungary is already recording HMPV cases on a weekly basis, and these numbers are likely to increase. However, experts say there is no need to panic as the symptoms of the disease are mild in most cases and can be well treated at home.
What can be done about HMPV?
Hungarian virologists such as Miklós Rusvai say it is still important to follow basic hygiene rules to prevent infection. Although there is no vaccine against HMPV, the treatment of symptoms is simple: rest, drink plenty of fluids and use antipyretics and mucolytics.
If someone has flu-like symptoms, it is wise to stay at home to reduce the spread of the virus. If symptoms do not improve or worsen within 2-3 days, it may be necessary to see a doctor as complications of HMPV, such as pneumonia, may require more serious treatment.
Mask use has again become an issue in Hungary in relation to the spread of HMPV, particularly in confined spaces and healthcare facilities. Although mask use is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended for those with respiratory symptoms to prevent transmission of the virus.
Source: Pixabay
Experts predict that the spread of HMPV in Hungary will continue, especially during the winter season when respiratory infections tend to peak. However, the epidemiological situation is manageable if the population follows the recommendations and seeks timely medical attention in severe cases.
Overall, the presence of HMPV in Hungary is not a cause for panic but underlines the importance of prevention and the effective functioning of the health system. The spread of the virus and related epidemiological data should continue to be monitored in the coming weeks.
In an effort to improve the quality of public transportation in Hungary, significant upgrades have been announced by Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár. Starting 1 June, a new “delay insurance” policy will be introduced across MÁV (Hungarian State Railways) and Volán buses. Under this policy, passengers will receive half of their ticket price refunded if their train or bus is delayed by more than 20 minutes, with no paperwork or proof required from the passengers. Those who purchased tickets online will receive an automatic refund, while those with paper tickets can claim their refund at ticket counters.
Refunds on ticket prices, discount on passes
Additionally, MÁV season ticket holders will also benefit from this initiative. If their service is delayed five times in a month, they will receive a 10% discount on their next month’s pass. To make use of this, passengers will need to enable the delay insurance feature in the MÁV app. According to Economx, as part of a broader effort to enhance the overall travel experience, Lázár also announced plans for a major overhaul of public transport services by 2026. By 1 January 2026, all MÁV and Volán Group restrooms will be renovated, with a focus on improving hygiene standards. These restrooms will be free to use for passengers who have a valid ticket or pass. In addition, MÁV will deploy cleaning staff on all InterCity trains starting 1 April 2025, to maintain cleanliness during travel.
Renewing the bus and train fleet
To further improve the fleet, Hungary plans to purchase 1,000 new buses by 2026, expanding the existing fleet of 5,700 Volán buses. Additionally, the MÁV locomotive fleet will be upgraded, with 40 new electric locomotives and 15 high-performance diesel locomotives scheduled to enter service by the summer of 2025. The government also aims to reduce the shortage of InterCity carriages by adding 100 new cars during the peak summer season. Moreover, a new service called “MÁV Bus” will operate alongside trains to accommodate overcrowded routes.
For example, if a train from the Déli railway station is full, passengers will be directed to a MÁV Bus that will take them to their destination.
Passengers will also be able to choose whether they travel on air-conditioned trains or buses, as the government ensures that either option is available on all routes. In addition, the MÁV+ app will be revamped, offering expanded features such as the delay insurance system, set to launch in April 2025. With these extensive reforms, Lázár aims to provide a more reliable, cleaner, and modern public transport system for Hungarian travellers.
The media freedom reports published on Hungary in 2024 have shown the shortcomings detected in earlier reports, the Hungarian media authority NMHH said in a report published on Wednesday.
Freedom House reports are usually based on the assessment of one expert, while Reporters Without Borders has refused to divulge information on the people involved in assigning scores, the report said. Further, the reports often repeat statements about earlier years, pertaining to periods outside of the report’s scope, the NMHH report said. Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report and that issued by Reporters without Borders were also insufficiently sourced, it said.
The reports also contained factual errors and omitted important facts and circumstances, it said. CLU said that the Hungarian media act failed to prevent market concentration, and the Media Pluralism Monitor said that the legislation failed to protect certain vulnerable groups, neither of which was true, NMHH said.
