The infected dairy farm, located in Rábapordány with 875 cattle on-site, was identified on April 17. A neighboring pig farm, housing 9,888 pigs, was also emptied as a preventive measure to stop the potential spread of the virus.
Over 26,000 animals culled due to FMD outbreaks
In total, 26,704 animals have either been culled or died due to the recent FMD outbreaks in Central Europe. This figure includes 16,802 cattle, 14 water buffalo, and 9,888 pigs. Twelve farms have been directly infected over the last four months across Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary, with most outbreaks concentrated along the Slovakia-Hungary border.
According to data from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Slovakia culled 7,490 head of cattle, and Hungary 8,466, due to direct infections. Hungary also preventively emptied two additional cattle farms, removing 539 and 307 cattle respectively.
The largest outbreak occurred near the Slovakian village of Plavecký Štvrtok on March 30, affecting over 3,500 cattle. In Hungary, two farms each had over 2,500 cattle infected. Overall, six of the twelve affected farms housed more than 1,000 animals.
Mass testing and monitoring
Authorities have conducted extensive testing, with Slovakia examining 924 farms and over 400 wild animals. Hungary tested 1,565 farms and 1,016 wild animals. Austria has also launched a farm-testing plan, focusing particularly on farms near the Slovakia-Hungary border. So far, no farms in Austria have tested positive for FMD.
German and Hungarian-Slovak outbreaks not connected
Despite the near-simultaneous emergence of FMD in Germany and the Hungary-Slovakia region, officials report no direct connection between the outbreaks.
Although FMD can affect all cloven-hoofed animals, no infections have been detected among sheep, goats, or pigs so far. Nevertheless, indirect impacts—including preventive culling, border closures, and transport bans—have disrupted these livestock sectors as well.
pigprogress.net