Hungary confirms fifth foot-and-mouth disease outbreak amid mounting regional concerns

Hungary confirmed a fifth outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at a cattle farm in Rábapordány, near the Slovak border, heightening regional concern over the escalating spread of the highly contagious livestock virus first detected in the country last month.

The latest case, verified by laboratory testing on April 17 afternoon, has prompted the immediate quarantine of the affected facility, which houses approximately 600 dairy cows, Agriculture Minister István Nagy announced via social media. Veterinary authorities have begun preparations to cull the entire herd, in line with national emergency containment protocols, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The Rábapordány outbreak follows earlier confirmed cases at four cattle farms across Győr-Moson-Sopron county — specifically in Kisbajcs, Levél, Darnózseli, and Dunakiliti — where more than 4,000 animals have already been culled in efforts to stem the virus’s spread.

In response to the latest outbreak, Hungarian authorities have established a three-kilometer protection zone and a 10-kilometer surveillance zone around the affected farm. Contact tracing, movement controls, and further diagnostic testing are currently underway.

Although foot-and-mouth disease poses no risk to human health, it can devastate livestock populations — particularly cattle, pigs, and sheep — with severe economic repercussions. The outbreak is Hungary’s first in five decades, and officials now estimate the direct financial toll in the millions of euros, with further losses expected from export suspensions and long-term disruptions to the agricultural sector.

Neighboring Slovakia, which declared a state of emergency last month following six confirmed outbreaks since March, continues to enforce strict cross-border transport restrictions in a bid to contain the virus. Slovak officials estimate economic losses at approximately €8 million to date.

In both Hungary and Slovakia, speculation has begun to circulate regarding the potential deliberate introduction of the virus, though such claims remain unsubstantiated. Authorities and veterinary experts caution against unfounded theories, warning that “experts warn against speculation without evidence.”

The United Kingdom, citing the need to protect its agricultural sector and food security, has since imposed a ban on personal imports of meat and dairy products from the European Union in response to the outbreaks.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has initiated genome sequencing of the virus in an effort to trace its origin and determine how it may have entered and spread through the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva