First Case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Hungary After 50 Years

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On 7 March 2025, the Hungarian National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) confirmed the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Hungary in five decades. The outbreak occurred on a dairy cattle farm with approximately 1,400 animals in Kisbajcs. The farm is located in northern Hungary, near the city of Győr and the Slovakian border.

The laboratory of the Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate of the National Food Chain Safety Office confirmed the presence of the virus with the Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) test, identifying serotype O.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that does not affect humans but poses a significant threat to cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and various wild species such as deer and roe deer. Although mortality rates among adult animals are generally low, the disease causes severe clinical manifestations, including high fever and painful vesicular lesions in the oral cavity and on the hooves, resulting in lameness and decreased productivity.

The disease is transmitted both through direct contact with infected animals' excretions and secretions and indirect contact via contaminated fomites. Additionally, the consumption of milk or other products from infected animals may play a role in viral transmission. Given its potential for rapid dissemination—through direct contact, contaminated materials, and, in certain cases, aerosol transmission—FMD constitutes a considerable threat to the livestock industry.

Hungarian authorities have promptly implemented containment measures, including quarantine of the affected farm, restrictions on animal movement, and enhanced epidemiological surveillance in surrounding areas.

This case follows a recent outbreak in Germany just two weeks ago, where the virus was detected in a small group of water buffalo in Brandenburg, north of Berlin. However, preliminary investigations suggest that the two outbreaks are not epidemiologically linked. Further diagnostic analyses will be conducted by the European Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease at ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) to elucidate potential transmission pathways.

These recent events underscore the critical need for rigorous surveillance and the implementation of robust preventive measures to safeguard animal health and protect the agricultural economy. As FMD is a notifiable disease under the regulations of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), its detection can lead to significant trade restrictions on live animals and animal products. Consequently, prompt identification and effective outbreak management are essential to mitigating economic repercussions and ensuring food security.

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