Hungary faces rise in African swine fever cases amid ongoing containment efforts

Hungary has detected African swine fever in a domestic pig herd in Lakócsa, prompting culling and new containment measures as the disease continues to threaten European pig populations.

Hungary has again detected African swine fever in a domestic pig herd, this time at a farm in Lakócsa, Somogy county, where Nébih identified the virus on 9 August in a holding of about 1,850 animals, according to Index and the agriculture ministry.

Minister Bóna Szabolcs said the affected herd is being culled and an epidemiological investigation has begun to trace the source of infection and assess the risk of further spread. Protection and surveillance zones have been drawn up, bringing restrictions to several settlements in Somogy and Baranya counties.

He stressed that the disease does not infect humans, but can devastate pig populations and inflict heavy economic losses. Pig farmers were urged to keep animals securely enclosed, limit any contact with wild boar, tighten controls on movements on and off farms, and alert a vet immediately if they see unusual illness or deaths.

The latest case comes as ASF continues to pressure the European pig sector. The European Food Safety Authority reported in June that outbreaks in domestic pigs across Europe were up 76% year on year, while cases in wild boar rose 44%. Hungary itself confirmed its first domestic-pig outbreak in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county in June, underlining how difficult the disease remains to contain.