Hungary has detected African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs for the first time, according to the country’s National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih).
The outbreak was confirmed on a pig farm in the village of Vallaj, located in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County in eastern Hungary. Following laboratory confirmation of the disease, veterinary authorities immediately initiated containment and eradication measures.
“The culling of approximately 3,000 pigs is underway, and an epidemiological investigation is being conducted to determine the source of the infection and assess the risk of further spread,” the Hungarian authority stated.
Protection and surveillance zones have already been established around the affected farm in accordance with European Union animal health regulations.
African swine fever poses no risk to human health, but it is highly contagious and often fatal for pigs. The disease can cause severe economic losses due to mandatory culling, trade restrictions, and the loss of export markets.
In recent years, ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs have been reported in several European countries, including Croatia, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Estonia. The continued spread of the virus remains one of the most significant challenges facing the global pig industry.
Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Office warned that the outbreak could have substantial economic consequences for the sector. According to data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the country had approximately 2.9 million pigs at the end of 2025.
Veterinary services are continuing surveillance activities and implementing all necessary measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
PigUA.info, based on Reuters materials