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Urgent Measures in Hungary and Slovakia Amid FMD Outbreaks

The recent Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks in Hungary and Slovakia have prompted swift and decisive actions from both countries to contain the spread and mitigate the impact on their livestock industries.


Hungary has confirmed two additional FMD outbreaks, bringing the total to four. The latest cases were reported on farms in Győr-Moson-Sopron county, near the Slovakian border. The newly affected farms house 1,000 and 2,500 cattle respectively. Authorities have initiated vaccination and established protection zones around the outbreak sites to contain the spread.

Slovakia has declared a state of emergency due to multiple FMD outbreaks. The outbreaks have affected several cattle farms in the southern regions of Dunajská Streda and Komárno, as well as a large farm in the western Bratislava region. Over 6,000 cattle are affected, showing symptoms such as fever, excessive salivation, and mouth and hoof blisters. Emergency measures include movement bans, culling, and vaccination efforts.



Corrective Measures

Both Hungary and Slovakia have implemented stringent corrective measures to control the FMD outbreak:

  • Hungary:

    • Vaccination: Authorities have initiated vaccination campaigns to immunize cattle in affected and surrounding areas[1].
    • Protection Zones: Establishment of protection zones around outbreak sites to limit the movement of livestock[1].
    • Grazing Ban: A grazing ban is in force in the 10 km border strip until April 7[1].
    • Culling: Infected cattle are being culled to prevent further spread[1].

  • Slovakia:

    • State of Emergency: Declaration of a state of emergency to mobilize resources and enforce strict control measures[2].
    • Movement Bans: Restrictions on animal movements to prevent the disease from spreading to other regions[2].
    • Disinfection: Compulsory disinfection protocols for affected farms and surrounding areas[2].
    • Culling: Compulsory slaughter of affected livestock[2].
    • Financial Compensation: The government has pledged to fully compensate the financial damage caused by the outbreak[2].

These outbreaks have highlighted the importance of rapid response and coordination between neighboring countries to prevent further spread and protect their livestock industries.

References

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