In Hungary, the National Food Safety Authority (Nébih) has detected African swine fever (ASF) in several domestic pig herds in Baranya County in the south of the country. The authorities have immediately initiated control measures.
After African swine fever (ASF) was first detected in domestic pigs in Hungary in June of this year, Hungarian authorities have now reported outbreaks of the disease in three more pig herds in Baranya County in the south of the country. According to the National Food Safety Authority (Nébih), the laboratory confirmed the ASF virus within a short period of time in three farms with a total of approximately 80 pigs. The outbreak sites are located in southwestern Baranya, just a few kilometers from the Hungarian-Croatian border.
On August 12, the Nébih laboratory confirmed the presence of the African swine fever (ASF) virus in two domestic pig herds in Baranya County. The affected farms were one with 34 pigs in Drávafok and another with 19 Mangalica pigs in Okorág. The animals showed symptoms such as fever, weakness, and diarrhea, and losses were increasing. The national chief veterinarian, Dr. Imre Nemes, ordered the immediate quarantine of both farms; the culling of the pigs is underway.
On August 18, the ASF virus was detected in another farm with 27 pigs in Kölked. The Nébih laboratory confirmed the finding there as well; the animals appeared to have lost their appetite and were experiencing increased losses. The affected farm was immediately quarantined, and the culling of the entire herd was initiated.
In immediate response to the outbreaks, the veterinary authorities have established a protection zone (3 kilometers) and a surveillance zone (10 kilometers) around the affected farms, where strict restrictions apply. The authorities are urgently appealing to all pig farmers in the region to strictly adhere to biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
