Foot-and-mouth disease identified in Hungary
The presence of the livestock disease was confirmed at a cattle farm in West Hungary, authorities put strict veterinary measures in place.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been identified at a cattle farm in Kisbajcs, Győr-Moson-Sopron County, West Hungary, reports the National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH). The village of Kisbajcs is close to the Slovakian border.
In January, the disease was identified in Germany. The new case at the Kisbajcs farm is the first outbreak of the dangerous livestock disease in more than 50 years in Hungary.
Chief Veterinary Officer Szabolcs Pásztor has ordered the immediate isolation of the farm, which holds 1,400 heads of cattle, following laboratory confirmation of the disease, and an epidemic investigation is also underway.
To prevent the spread of the disease, extremely strict regulatory measures are being implemented, including a ban on the transportation of susceptible livestock species and their products, NÉBIH announced. The culling of the affected herd and the identification of the source of infection are in progress, the authority adds.
FMD is a contagious viral disease that primarily affects even-toed ungulates such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, buffalo, but it can also infect water buffalo, deer, bison and other domestic and wild ungulates. Extremely rarely, humans can be infected by the virus, mainly due to contact with infected livestock, but since the virus is sensitive to stomach acid, it cannot spread to humans via the consumption of infected meat.
Update Monday, March 10, 11:36:
NÉBIH’s website states that, until further notice, the export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and other even-toed ungulate livestock from Hungary is prohibited
Domestic transport restrictions can be found on the NÉBIH website.
The quarantine protection zone currently includes the county capital Győr, as well as Kisbajcs, Nagybajcs, Vámosszabadi and Vének in Győr-Moson-Sopron county. The surveilance zone includes Abda, Ásványráró, Dunaszeg, Gönyű, Győr, Győrladamér, Győrújfalu, Győrzámoly, Kunsziget, Nagybajcs, Nagyszentjános, Töltéstava, Vámosszabadi, Vének.
The Slovakian police is conducting checks at border crossings from Hungary until Tuesday, March 11, Kisalföld.hu reports. The food safety and animal health authority in Slovakia is also responding to the outbreak and is setting up observation zones close to the border.
Körkép.sk reports that animals from the affected populace have previously been transported to other locations. Bulls have been transported to one of the owner’s other farms, and through a collection center, animal shipments were also sent to Austria an Slovenia.
At the affected farm, the authorities decided for the safest disposal solution, and did not transport the animal carcasses to a distant plant and did not incinerate them, but instead, the carcasses are being buried at the closest suitable location. Ugytudjuk.hu reported, quoting a local Council member, that the more than 1,000 tons of carcasses were transported to be buried near Bábolna.
A football cup in the affected area has been cancelled. The Xantus János Zoo in Győr and a wildlife park in Sopron have been temporarily closed. Other wildlife parks in Hungary are considering appropriate measures.