Budapest: Hungary has suggested that the country’s first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in more than 50 years may have stemmed from a “biological attack”, raising serious concerns as mass cattle culling and border closures disrupt the region.
The outbreak was first reported last month on a cattle farm in northwestern Hungary, near the borders of Austria and Slovakia. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, Hungarian authorities confirmed the presence of the highly contagious virus, which affects cloven-hoofed animals but poses no risk to humans.
Hungary’s animal health authorities have since inspected nearly 1,000 farms nationwide. So far, only four farms—all located in the affected northwestern region—have tested positive.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, stated:
“At this stage, we can say that it cannot be ruled out that the virus was not of natural origin, we may be dealing with an artificially engineered virus.”
Pressed further, Gulyás added:
“I cannot rule out that the virus outbreak was the result of a biological attack,” though he refrained from naming any potential source or perpetrator. He clarified that the suspicion is based on verbal reports from a foreign laboratory, whose findings have yet to be fully validated or documented.
Hungary currently has approximately 861,000 head of cattle, according to the latest livestock census conducted in December. That figure represents 1.2% of the European Union’s total cattle population.
Foot-and-mouth disease does not affect humans but is devastating for animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. It causes fever, blisters in the mouth, and lameness. The economic toll is often severe, with immediate trade restrictions and forced culling to halt further spread.
The outbreak has already forced the slaughter of thousands of cattle as Hungary attempts to contain the virus. Neighboring countries have responded swiftly—Austria and Slovakia have shut down several border crossings, especially after confirmed cases emerged in southern Slovakia.
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Paul Meixner, an Austrian-Hungarian dual citizen and owner of one of the infected farms, described the emotional and financial blow to local communities.
“Everyone was just standing there, crying and saying that this cannot be true, that this was impossible,” he said.
Meixner’s farm has suffered losses of 1.5 billion forints (around $4.09 million) after the culling of approximately 3,000 animals. Still, he remains determined to rebuild.
“In two weeks, we will start harvesting and storing the hay,” he said. “We need the fodder for next year.”
As investigations continue, authorities have not confirmed the exact origin of the virus, but Hungary’s open mention of a possible biological attack adds a complex and alarming dimension to the already severe outbreak.
