Hungary

In Hungary, the first case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was reported on Friday, 7 March 2025 by Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH). The outbreak occurred at a dairy farm in Kisbajcs, located in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, in Western Hungary. The farm had 1,372 animals at risk. Classic FMD symptoms, such as fever and loss of appetite, were first noticed on 3 March, and authorities estimate the initial infection occurred between 27–28 February 2025.

A second outbreak in Hungary was confirmed on 26 March at a dairy farm in Levél, Győr-Moson-Sopron, about 50 kilometers from the first farm in Kisbajcs. The surveillance zone extends into Austrian territory, prompting Great Britain to extend import restrictions to Austria. 

The Hungarian National Reference Laboratory identified the virus as O serotype. Its sequence shows the highest similarity with a strain isolated in Pakistan in 2017-18 (98- 99%), and differs from the strain detected in Germany in January 2025, indicating the outbreaks are unrelated

The source of the outbreak remains unclear. So far, the epidemiological investigation has provided no indication that the virus was introduced through movements of animals or semen, and at lesser certainty equipment or vehicles. The introduction of the virus via the movement of people remains unclear. Investigations are still ongoing. 

Slovakia

5 farms have been infected with FMD in Slovakia, with the first case reported on 20 March. Four of these farms are in the south of the country, close to the border with Hungary. The region is particularly important for Slovakian livestock production and the Slovakian authorities declared a state of emergency on 25 March. 

The serotype matches with the cases in Hungary.

A fifth farm in Plavecký Štvrtok, located 70 kilometers from the earlier affected farms, was confirmed to have FMD on 30 March. Slovakian Agriculture Minister, Richard Takáč, said the farm has had contact with the infected farm in Lével. Approximately 10% of the animals at the Plavecký Štvrtok farm showed mild clinical symptoms.

Control measures are being implemented by Slovakian authorities, including protection zones and surveillance zones and the movement of animals is prohibited. The Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic has bought a supply of 10,000 vaccination doses. Affected animals will be vaccinated and culled. 

Germany

On 10 January 2025, three water buffalo in the district of Märkisch-Oderland in Germany tested positive for Food and Mouth Disease (FMD), marking Germany's first FMD outbreak in nearly 40 years. 

The German Federal Research Institute for Animal Health and the national reference laboratory at the Friedrich Loffler Institute (FLI), has confirmed FMD virus serotype O, with the closest sequence being from Türkiye in December 2024, and previously seen in countries including Iran, India and Nepal. 

Authorities have been conducting investigations to determine the source of infection, but so far the investigations have been inconclusive. 

No further outbreaks and suspicions have occurred. 

The table below lists the FMD detections across Germany, Hungary and Slovakia:

Country	Date of infection	Location	Number of animals on farm	Serotype
Germany	09/01/2025	Hoppegarten, Märkisch-Oderland, Brandenburg (52.55 , 13.63)	14 (water buffalo)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Türkiye in December 2024, and previously seen in countries including Iran, India and Nepal.
Hungary	03/03/2025	Kisbajcs, Győr, Győr-Moson-Sopron (47.74548 , 17.69484)	1372 (dairy cattle)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Pakistan in 2018
Slovakia	20/03/2025	Dunajská Streda, Trnavský (47.8049 , 17.6666)	670 (dairy cattle)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Pakistan in 2018.
Slovakia	20/03/2025	Dunajská Streda, Trnavský (47.8433 , 17.6214)	790 (cattle)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Pakistan in 2018.
Slovakia	20/03/2025	Dunajská Streda, Trnavský (47.9097 , 17.5387)	1301 (cattle)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Pakistan in 2018.
Slovakia	24/03/2025	Dunajská Streda, Trnavský (47.9704 , 17.4947)	279 (cattle)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Pakistan in 2018.
Hungary	25/03/2025	Level, Mosonmagyaróvár, Győr-Moson-Sopron (47.90917 , 17.19819)	3000 (dairy cattle)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Pakistan in 2018.
Slovakia	30/03/2025	Plavecký Štvrtok, Bratislavský (48.3861 , 16.9924)	3526 (cattle)	Serotype O, with closest sequence being from Pakistan in 2018.