Hungary Declares FMD Outbreak Contained
Hungary Ends Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak June 2025
The latest Hungary ends Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak June 2025 update brings relief to farmers and exporters. Agriculture Minister István Nagy confirmed that the outbreak in Kisbajcs, near the Slovakian border, has been successfully contained.
Outbreak and Response
The first FMD case appeared on 7 March 2025 at a cattle farm in northwestern Hungary. Authorities quickly identified five affected farms. They introduced strict movement restrictions and carried out targeted livestock culling to prevent further spread. Since then, no new cases have been detected for over six weeks, and disinfection of affected sites is still underway.
Minister Nagy declared, “The virus is gone,” underlining the effectiveness of the country’s rapid response. His statement reassured both local farmers and trading partners that the disease was no longer a threat.
Trade and Economic Impact
During the outbreak, the European Union and the United Kingdom suspended imports of Hungarian livestock and beef products. These restrictions hit the Hungarian meat sector hard, limiting access to key export markets. Now that the Hungary ends Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak June 2025 decision has been confirmed by the EU, trade can gradually resume.
However, the outbreak still left lasting effects. Farmers lost animals due to mandatory culling, and the incident disrupted supply chains across Hungary and Slovakia. Additionally, officials continue to investigate the origin of the outbreak. Some government figures, including Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff, even suggested the possibility of a deliberate biological attack.
Outlook for Producers
With restrictions lifted, Hungarian exporters can reconnect with valuable EU and UK buyers. Yet recovery will take time, as rebuilding herds is a slow process. For the wider European beef and sheep sectors, the reopening of Hungarian livestock trade may increase competition but also strengthen regional supply.
In conclusion, the Hungary ends Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak June 2025 update signals a positive step forward. Nonetheless, ongoing vigilance and biosecurity will be vital to protect the future of Hungarian livestock producers.
Source: Reuters
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