Serious accusation from Hungarian expert: Guest workers could have brought deadly virus to Hungary
György Raskó, a Hungarian agricultural economist, said there is an exceptional correlation between the nationality of the workers at dairy farms and the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary. He told Hungarian media that the number of Filipino, Indian and Sikh guest workers on Hungarian dairy farms may reach 5-600 due to the labour shortage. He added that Sikh or other guest workers did not spread the virus deliberately in Hungary.
Hungarians are no longer keen on keeping livestock
We wrote in THIS article that the workers in the Hungarian dairy farm sector are mainly from the Philippines and India, and their number is continuously growing. An advantage of employing an Indian guest worker is their religion, which commands them to treat dairy cattle well.
Raskó said that employing guest workers in the industry started 20 years ago. Now, Indian, Filipino and Sikh workers satisfy workforce needs. He added that Asians in the dairy industry are trustworthy and hard-working, which is crucial since milking is a 24/7 job, and one cannot be late. Since one of the basic teachings of Hinduism is the love for animals, Hindu workers start with an advantage.
Did Sikh guest workers bring the deadly FMD virus to Hungary?
Raskó told Klubrádió that the correlation between the nationality of the employees and the FMD outbreaks is exceptional. He said that in most dairy farms in Hungary, Sikhs work and the FMD virus is constantly present in their home country.
- Will workers from India save the Hungarian dairy industry? – read more HERE
Foreign employees working on the dairy farms change approximately every six months, with other relatives coming to work. They also work here for six months, then go back. It could happen that these employees brought the deadly FMD virus to Hungary. As a result, thousands of cattle had to be slaughtered, the sector underwent a serious crisis, and agriculture experts estimate the damage to be tens of billions of forints.
As an example, Raskó mentioned the dairy farm of Dunakiliti, where 2,500 cattle had to be slaughtered and where Sikh guest workers were employed. They live in a former collective farm office that was rebuilt into a workers’ dormitory. Raskó even met them since they lived on the same street as him.
Farm owners should introduce health checkups for guest workers
He added that Sikh guest workers did not bring the virus into Hungary deliberately. He mentioned Slovak dairy farms, where he found the same strong correlation between the outbreaks and the Sikh guest workers.
Raskó said the last FMD outbreak was 52 years ago in Hungary, so dairy farms do not have health protocols like pig or poultry farms. Guest workers on dairy farms did not undergo health assessments. He said farm owners should pay attention to the fact that many Indian guest workers are in Hungary, they are regularly rotated and there are at least 30 farms where they take care of the livestock.
Significant losses
He said that authorities slaughtered at least 10,000 cattle, mostly Holstein Friesian dairy cattle. One costs around HUF 900,000 on the market, so the damage is at least HUF 10 billion (EUR 25 million). However, the damage is greater since they will never produce milk for the farmers. The daily milk production of such cattle is 30-40 litres. One litre of raw milk is HUF 200, so the altogether loss will be about HUF 22-25 billion (EUR 50-62 million).
The head of the Hungarian Animal Breeders Association does not exclude the deliberate introduction of the virus
Zsombor Wagenhoffer, the head of the Hungarian Animal Breeders’ Association, told Economx that more than 9,100 cattle and 7,300 pigs had to be slaughtered due to the virus and estimated the damage to be tens of billions of forints. He did not exclude the option that somebody deliberately brought the virus into Hungary, which is what Agriculture Minister István Nagy suggested at press conferences weeks ago.
Wagenhoffer said that restrictions will remain in effect until 31 May if no other outbreaks are registered. However, Austria, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Czechia, and Romania introduced unfounded sanctions against Hungary after the outbreaks, which were not authorised by the European Commission. He hopes that export sanctions will be eased after next week.
- Read more about guest workers in Hungary HERE.
Read also:
- New Hungarian government decree modifies multiple rules on guest workers – read more HERE
- Rising costs and labour shortages drive Hungarian agriculture to hire Filipino guest workers
Where was the genius Fidesz minister of agriculture when the proposal of farm guest workers was considered? Someone failed to do their due diligence in investigating whether there was disease in the home country and what prevention of disease transmission is needed. For one thing there must be a seven day quarantine and footwear and clothing must be disinfected. Well genius minister – did they quarantine for seven days or like total incompetants did you send them direct to the farms? This is the policy in Canada: “If you have been abroad and visited a farm or have come in contact with any wild animals, postpone any farm visits in Canada for one week. Disinfect the footwear you wore, wash your clothing thoroughly and dry it at a high temperature.” This looks like a total Fidesz created disaster.
Can’t be Dismissed
Those issued Residency Permit Cards – prior to the CHANGE by the Orban – Fidesz Government – mid 2024 that come 30th June 2025 – from America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – in thousands, it WAS required in making application besides the LEGAL need of having Personal Private Health Insurance – you SIGNED on DOCUMENTATION the status of your Health.
If your Health recorded information did not meet the criteria BACK then – required in your application for a Residency Permit Card issued only for a (2) two year period then NEED of a complete APPLICATION, if your Health status was not of requirement – your application for a Residency Permit Card – was REJECTED.
WONDER – under Guest Workers – what on official Government Documentation to be approved under the status of a Guest Worker – are they being asked QUESTIONS that NEED compiling in there writing accompanied by there signature – in relation to there ;
(1) – Medical = Private Health Care Policy ???
(2) – WHAT vaccinations they in the countrys of there origin, what have they been vaccinated against ???
IF they HAVE to answer and sign documents relating to these (2) two questions that ALSO they PRESENT proof of questions (1) & (2).
Subject of this article can’t be DISMISSED as a PROBABILITY.
Residency Permit Card Holders – pre June 2024 – they were TESTED in THOUGHNESS – before being approved as a Resident, of a (2) two year period and had to supply to confirm in LARGE part the questions asked on there APPLICATIONS – be finger-printed & photographed – and sign ALL in the Application – that your APPLICATION was TRUTH.
The thousands of Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders – come 30th June 2025 – in Hungary numbers for years – retired and working – being told come 30th June 2025 to LEAVE Hungary – they were TESTED and PASSED the test – but NOW being told – OUT With YOU no longer you meet the criteria to be granted the status under a Residency Permit Card to live/work in Hungary.
THESE thousands – cost the Orban – Fidesz Government – NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING.
The Measels outbreak in the US is directly tied to the trespassers that Biden allowed to enter unscreened into the country. It was not the first time. A few years ago, there was a big Measels outbreak in a migrant detention center in Chicago housing trespassers.
A nation that does not screen those it allows to enter invites these types of problems and more.
A rational immigration system includes health screening.