The EU may soon lift the restrictions imposed on Hungary due to foot-and-mouth disease

(Photo: AM/Csaba Pelsőczy)

The minister highlighted that one of the important lessons of the experience related to the control is the need for additional animal health professionals with practical knowledge. The training of veterinarians and animal health guards is not only in the health interest, but also in the national and economic interest, therefore, animal health guard training will be restarted in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine – the minister announced. At the conference, István Nagy said that Hungarian animal health stood up to the historic crisis in an exemplary manner, and earned international recognition. He thanked the experts of the authorities involved in the fight against the epidemic, the leaders of the affected settlements, veterinarians, those working in the epidemiological administration, law enforcement officers and farmers for their work, and particularly highlighted the help of veterinary students. In his speech, the minister recalled that the virus appeared on farms in the settlements of Kisbajcs, Levél, Darnózseli, Dunakiliti, and Rábapordány, and that there are many unanswered questions about its origin and spread. Laboratories and experts are searching for answers as to how the virus appeared in Hungary after more than 50 years.

István Nagy emphasized that the experiences gained in the treatment of foot-and-mouth disease epidemics must be transferred to everyday work

On the one hand, everything must be done to maintain effective protection, and on the other hand, the long-term, safe operation of livestock farms must be ensured. He explained that the Ministry of Agriculture provides non-refundable support to cattle, sheep and goat farmers for the implementation of epidemic control investments. Animal farmers can submit support applications from June 25. The aim of the support is to promote the prevention of infectious diseases, minimize the risk of introduction and reduce the spread of diseases. Every development is another step towards defeating a possible new epidemic even more effectively and efficiently – he emphasized.

The minister drew attention to the important task of restarting the sector, settling the trade and export situation

An important result in this regard is that the country is expected to regain its immunity within the European Union within days. However, in the case of countries outside the EU, it will take longer to regain immunity. Laboratory tests must be continued, and on the basis of these, documentation regarding the country’s immunity must be submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health. After this has been evaluated and accepted, substantive negotiations with third countries can take place. The government will do everything possible to ensure that the negotiations are successfully concluded as soon as possible – István Nagy noted.

The head of the ministry also spoke about the fact that in addition to foot-and-mouth disease, there are other worrying trends

African swine fever is still actively spreading in Europe, in Hungary it is only present in the wild boar population, and protection against avian influenza is also an ongoing task. In January, a shipment of sheep from Romania to Zala County was found to be infected with the plague of small ruminants. Thanks to the quick and professional measures, the virus was unable to spread, but Hungary lost its historical immunity. It should also be noted that rabies is detected in more wild animals on the country’s northeastern border every year. The reason for this is that the Ukrainian veterinary authority was unable to carry out the fox population immunization program due to the war, while the Romanian veterinary authority was unable to carry out the fox population immunization program due to other reasons. Hungary considers it important that vaccination, as a disease control tool, receives greater support at the EU level. Several high-level consultations were held on this during the Hungarian EU presidency. At the initiative of Hungary, the European Union has put the review of the vaccination concept and the consideration of its applicability in certain diseases on the agenda, explained István Nagy.

AM/MTI