Foot-and-Mouth Disease Is Back and Pigs Are Paying the Price

The foot-and-mouth disease virus has been confirmed at another cattle farm, which has been placed under quarantine on Thursday, announced the Minister of Agriculture on social media.

István Nagy stated that the virus appeared in Rábapordány, located on the North-West side of Hungary in Győr-Moson-Sopron County. Following the report of a suspected case, the veterinary authority immediately collected samples, and by last Thursday afternoon, laboratory test results confirmed the infection.

The farm was immediately quarantined, and measures according to the epidemic protocol were initiated.

To prevent the spread of the virus, the animals were vaccinated. A 3-kilometer protection zone and a 10-kilometer surveillance zone was established. It is expected that these may be extended.

István Nagy added that an epidemiological investigation has been launched to uncover any potential negligence and identify possible contact farms. Within the protection zones, authorities began counting susceptible animals and collecting samples from herds.

The minister emphasized again that

foot-and-mouth disease is not dangerous to humans and does not threaten food chain safety.

The virus is extremely contagious and can have an incubation period of up to two weeks, so the responsibility of livestock owners is significant, he stressed.

On Saturday, the minister stated that 875 cattle have already been slaughtered. The Minister added that although pigs were also present on the farm and no infection was found among them, due to their proximity to the cattle, it was unavoidable that the entire pig population must also be slaughtered. Pigs could become “virus factories” if the infection were to spread to them, said the Minister.

Disease control is not solely the responsibility of the authorities. It is every livestock keeper’s responsibility across the country to help stop the virus, he warned, adding that if livestock owners are undisciplined and irresponsible, the virus will not be contained. He said that

every person, vehicle, or piece of equipment arriving at a farm can potentially carry the virus.

The minister also addressed the public and political outcry surrounding the mass burial sites. He said the public’s opposition is understandable, but these locations were chosen specifically because they are the most suitable and safest for burial.

“We can bury the animals deep enough and far from groundwater,” he pointed out. He added that safety is also ensured by operating drinking water monitoring wells at these sites. István Nagy emphasized that unnecessary panic and agitation slow down the disease control process and increase the risk of the virus spreading further, which is something that must be avoided at all costs. “It is in all our interest to defeat the foot-and-mouth disease virus as soon as possible,” he declared.

Magyar Nemzet reported on Tuesday that due to the contagious animal disease,

Croatia has also implemented temporary border checks, joining Slovakia and Austria. The restrictions apply to live animal and milk shipments.

The new Croatian rules state that from April 15, vehicles transporting even-toed ungulates, such as pigs or cattle, or products made from them may only cross the Letenye-Goričan (Muracsány) and Udvar–Duboševica (Dályok) border crossings if they have been disinfected. These shipments are disinfected at the border and receive a certificate of disinfection. The rules also apply to empty transport vehicles if they are suitable for carrying live animals or raw milk.

These new measures increased truck traffic on the motorways near Hungarian borders.

Via MTI, Magyar Nemzet; Featured picture: Pexels