LEVL, Hungary (AP) A significant outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among cattle populations has prompted urgent responses from authorities in several Central European nations. This alarming situation has led to extensive border closures and the culling of thousands of animals, affecting the livelihoods of farmers and the agricultural economy at large.

The origins of this outbreak trace back to early March when the virus was first detected on a cattle farm in northwestern Hungary. Shortly thereafter, tests confirmed that animals on three farms in neighboring Slovakia were also infected. This marked a historic event, as it represented the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in either Hungary or Slovakia in over fifty years.

In the wake of these discoveries, further testing revealed the presence of the virus on three additional farms in Hungary, along with three more in Slovakia. The rapid spread of this disease has instilled fear among local farmers, as they grapple with the potential loss of their herds. Sndor Szoboszlai, a local entrepreneur and hunter from Levl, expressed the chaos unfolding in the region, stating, Everything is completely upside down. He highlighted the anxiety felt by farmers, disrupted transportation due to border closures, and the widespread uncertainty that has gripped the community. Szoboszlai lamented the unexpected nature of such an outbreak, saying, We didnt even think such a thing could happen. Who could count on that? Nobody. He also insisted that the outbreak was not due to any negligence on the part of farmers, attributing its spread to environmental factors, saying, The wind blew it here.

Foot-and-mouth disease primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. The disease causes painful symptoms such as fevers and blisters in the animals' mouths and hooves. Transmission occurs through direct contact between infected animals, contaminated surfaces like clothing or vehicles, and even through the air. While it poses minimal risk to human health, the economic repercussions for farmers can be devastating.

In response to the outbreak, Hungarian authorities have been actively working to contain the virus. Operations have included disinfecting farms and vehicles in the affected areas, as well as erecting disinfectant mats at town entrances to eliminate any virus particles that may cling to tires. However, the effectiveness of these measures has been questioned, as many mats have dried out or been displaced by passing vehicles.

The Slovakian government has reacted to the situation by closing 16 of their border crossings with Hungary, in addition to one crossing with Austria. These closures are focused on lesser-trafficked routes to allow authorities to concentrate their efforts on major crossings. Last week, Austria, which has not reported any cases of the disease, closed 23 of its border crossings with both Hungary and Slovakia to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

In a proactive measure, the Czech Republic, despite being geographically removed from the outbreaks immediate epicenter, has implemented disinfection protocols at all five border crossings used by freight trucks entering the country. Jiri Cerny, an associate professor at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, noted that the greatest risk of transmission lies with contaminated human objects, such as tires, cars, and even footwear. Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vborn stated that the current restrictions would remain in place until at least 30 days after the last infected farm animal has been culled in Slovakia.

As of this week, no new infections have been reported in Hungary, and the cleanup operations at the last of the infected farms are expected to conclude on Saturday, according to Istvn Nagy, Hungarys agricultural minister.

Adding a layer of intrigue to the situation, a Hungarian official hinted that the outbreak might be linked to an artificially produced virus. Gergely Gulys, chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orbn, suggested during a news conference that the disease could have been released in Hungary as part of a biological attack. He mentioned that this suspicion was based on informal statements from a foreign laboratory that had begun analyzing viral samples.

In light of the challenges faced by farmers due to this outbreak, the Hungarian government has pledged to provide a moratorium on loan payments for affected farmers, as well as financial compensation for the loss of their livestock. Authorities are also working on developing preventive measures for farms to avert future outbreaks.

Szoboszlai, the hunter from Levl, shared a poignant moment while discussing a local farmer who had to cull his entire herd due to the virus. Overcome with emotion, he said, I feel so sorry for him, because this is his lifes work. It will be very difficult to start over. The situation continues to evolve, and the impact of the outbreak is felt deeply throughout the agricultural community.

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Karel Janicek and Stanislav Hodina in Prague, Czech Republic, contributed.