Confirmed: Foot-and-mouth disease spreads to another Hungarian farm
Agriculture Minister István Nagy announced that a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at another cattle farm in western Hungary. The highly contagious virus was detected at a facility in the village of Rábapordány, located in Győr-Moson-Sopron County.
According to Nagy, veterinary authorities immediately took samples following the report of a suspected case. Laboratory tests confirmed the infection on Thursday afternoon. In response, the facility was swiftly placed under quarantine and disease containment protocols were initiated.
Roughly 600 dairy cows are expected to be culled to prevent the virus from spreading further. Authorities have established a 3-kilometre protection zone and a 10-kilometre surveillance zone around the farm. These zones may be expanded as necessary depending on the progression of the outbreak.
In addition to culling preparations, susceptible animals in the affected areas are being vaccinated. Veterinary teams are also beginning to identify and test animals within the surveillance areas and are conducting an epidemiological investigation to determine any potential breaches or links to other farms.
Minister Nagy emphasised that while the disease poses no threat to humans and does not compromise the safety of the food chain, it remains extremely contagious among livestock and can have serious economic consequences.
He urged farmers and all stakeholders to strictly adhere to the preventive measures and to closely monitor the health of their animals. He added that the virus can incubate for up to two weeks, underscoring the critical role livestock owners play in detecting and reporting symptoms early. Authorities remain on high alert and are committed to taking every necessary step to contain the virus and prevent further outbreaks.
If you wish to read more on the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Hungary, click HERE.
Read also: