Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Hungary: veterinary service starts investigation
Kyiv • UNN
An investigation into the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been launched in Hungary, suspecting the unnatural origin of the virus. The authorities are taking strict measures to prevent a recurrence of the 2001 epidemic.
The Hungarian government has launched an investigation to identify the sources of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, which occurred in early March on four farms in the west of the country.
This was stated by the head of the Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office, UNN reports with reference to Reuters.
At this stage, we do not rule out that the virus may have an unnatural origin. We may be dealing with an artificially created virus.
Details
Gulyas also clarified that no new cases of infection have been detected, and the veterinary service is constantly taking samples for testing, and reminded that strict quarantine measures introduced by the authorities must be observed to contain the disease.
Addition
Last month, Hungary reported its first case of foot-and-mouth disease in more than 50 years on a cattle farm in the northwest of the country.
Thousands of cattle had to be destroyed while the country was trying to contain the outbreak. And neighboring Austria and Slovakia closed dozens of border crossing points with Hungary after cases of infection were detected in southern Slovakia.
Foot-and-mouth disease does not pose a danger to humans, but causes fever and blisters in the oral cavity of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Outbreaks of this virus often lead to trade restrictions.
Let us remind you
In early March, foot-and-mouth disease was detected on a Hungarian farm with 1,400 heads of cattle - the first case in half a century. The authorities are taking strict measures, fearing a repeat of the 2001 epidemic, which cost Europe 15 billion euros.
