Hungary orders cull of pigs after African swine fever detected in Szabolcs‑Szatmar‑Bereg

The National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) confirmed the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in a pig farm in Vállaj, Szabolcs‑Szatmar‑Bereg County. The outbreak prompted an immediate culling operation that is expected to be completed within three to four days, followed by cleaning and disinfection. A 21‑day incubation period was noted, during which two slaughterhouses received pigs from the infected site. Authorities have established a 3‑km protection zone and a 10‑km surveillance zone, with clinical examinations and laboratory testing of all pigs in the area.

Agriculture Minister Márton Nagy called a meeting of pork‑industry representatives to discuss the situation and reinforce bio‑security measures. Nébih president Imre Nemes stressed that the virus poses no risk to human health and that Hungarian pork and pork products remain safe for consumption. The affected region accounts for a small share of the national herd, improving prospects for containing the disease. If no further cases appear, the export exemption is expected to be reinstated within two months.