A significant outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary is leading to serious public health and agricultural crises in Europe, including border closures driven by fears of a biological attack. This emerging crisis marks the first instance of the disease being reported in Hungary in over 50 years, prompting urgent measures to contain its spread.
As of 28 March 2025, neighbouring countries Austria and Slovakia have imposed closures on several border crossings with Hungary in response to the situation. The World Organisation for Animal Health has reported on this escalating situation, which involves the mass culling of livestock to prevent further transmission of the virus.
On 8 April 2025, the UK Foreign Office issued a fresh travel advisory for its citizens, warning of potential delays and closures at the borders with Austria and Slovakia due to heightened checks aimed at curbing the outbreak.
A spokesperson from the Hungarian government indicated that investigations into the origins of this strain of foot-and-mouth disease suggest it may be artificially engineered. This claim has raised concerns about the possibility of biowarfare, with Gergely Gulyas, chief aide to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, stating, “At this stage, we can say that it cannot be ruled out that the virus was not of natural origin, we may be dealing with an artificially engineered virus.” However, he refrained from naming any specific suspects, acknowledging that intelligence remains unconfirmed.
Authorities are conducting extensive inspections across Hungarian farms, with close to 1,000 sites currently under scrutiny. So far, the disease has been detected at four locations. Hungary has a substantial cattle population, with approximately 861,000 cattle reported in December last year, representing about 1.2% of the EU's herd.
The impact of the outbreak has been profound for livestock farmers. Paul Meixner, an Austrian-Hungarian dual national who operates one of the affected farms, is facing severe economic losses of around 1.5 billion forints (approximately $4.09 million) due to the culling of 3,000 cattle and other livestock. Expressing the gravity of the situation, Meixner said, “Everyone was just standing there, crying and saying that this cannot be true, that this was impossible.” Despite the loss, he remains hopeful, stating, “In two weeks, we will start harvesting and storing the hay. We need the fodder for next year.”
In an effort to implement stringent biosecurity measures, officials have established disinfection stations at border checkpoints. Workers dressed in hazmat suits have been tasked with inspecting incoming vehicles, including trucks, as part of the precautions against the disease. Cars also undergo thorough disinfection processes to mitigate the risk of transmission.
The evolving crisis is closely monitored by a range of authorities, as the implications for agriculture and public health across Europe are significant. As Hungary grapples with this outbreak, the situation continues to develop, with multiple stakeholders keeping a careful eye on the unfolding events.
Source: Noah Wire Services