The government has imposed an import ban on livestock from Hungary and Slovakia following the confirmation of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

The disease was officially detected on March 7, at a cattle farm in north-west Hungary, close to the Slovakian border. This marks the country’s first reported case 50 years.

This development comes just two months after a small herd of water buffalo near Berlin, Germany, tested positive for FMD, leading to a UK ban on imports from the affected region.

The UK government has urged farmers and livestock owners to be 'absolutely rigorous' in maintaining biosecurity measures.

Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Authority reported that a farm housing 1400 cattle began displaying FMD symptoms at the beginning of March. Laboratory testing later confirmed the presence of the virus.

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The UK imports various pork products from Hungary, with HMRC data showing that more than 1800 tonnes of fresh and frozen pork were brought in last year - an increase of 44% compared to 2023.

Following the outbreak, the government has 'stepped up measures' to prevent the virus from entering the UK.

Commercial imports of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other non-domesticated ruminants, such as deer, along with untreated products like fresh meat and dairy, from Hungary and Slovakia are now prohibited.

Additionally, travellers will no longer be permitted to bring meat and dairy products from these two countries into the UK.

The UK's chief veterinary officer has stressed the importance of vigilance among livestock keepers, as there are currently no cases in the UK.

Dr Christine Middlemiss stated: “We remain in contact with our Hungarian counterparts to understand the latest situation - measures are now being taken to contain and eradicate the outbreak.

“I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency."

Although FMD does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, it is a highly contagious viral infection affecting cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals, including deer, llamas and alpacas. Rodents can also be carriers of the virus.

The disease causes significant economic damage due to lost production in affected livestock and restrictions on exports of animals, meat and dairy products.

The 2001 FMD epidemic resulted in approximately 2000 cases across UK farms.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the agricultural sector from the threat of the disease.

He said: “That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Hungary and Slovakia to prevent an outbreak.

"We will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads."

NFU Scotland vice president Robert Neill said: “This is a highly contagious disease that has the potential to destroy herds and businesses – at the very worst wipeout the livestock sector completely. It is important to stress there is no danger to humans or food safety nor is this disease present anywhere in the UK but its presence in Europe will send a chill through the livestock industry here.

“We have not seen foot and mouth disease in Scotland since 2001 but those who lived through that period of time cannot forget the devastation and toll it took on farming communities. We are confident as a sector that surveillance systems are effective. These systems were tested in full last week with the false FMD alert at Exeter Market.

“We understand that Chief Veterinary Officers from across the UK are in discussions on protocols including tracings from any recent movements from Hungary and a ban on importing cattle, pork, sheep and products of animal origin from Hungary must follow."

He continued: “NFU Scotland has long called for tighter border security on all food imports, and we need these to be robust and enforced without fail.

"Illegal meat imports continue to flood into this country at an alarming rate. Only last week, in evidence to a Westminster committee, Dover Port Health Authority confirmed that 22 tonnes of illegal meat were seized at the port in January alone.

“We are asking our members to maintain strict on-farm biosecurity measures, comply with the swill feeding ban, report all suspicions of notifiable diseases promptly and ensure they get proper diagnosis of any livestock presenting symptoms. Being vigilant and quickly recognising clinical signs of the disease in livestock is vital to controlling and preventing it from spreading if, in the worst-case scenario, the disease was ever to breach our borders again.

“But Government must also play its part by building robust, reliable border controls that the nation’s farmers can trust to keep us disease-free."

Clinical symptoms vary between species, but in cattle, they typically include sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue, as well as fever, lameness and reluctance to eat.

In sheep and pigs, lameness is a common sign, often accompanied by blistering on the hooves, snout, tongue or teats. In sheep, FMD may lead to heart failure in young lambs due to myocarditis, and the disease's symptoms can be difficult to spot, particularly in individual cases, requiring close vigilance.

Any suspected case of FMD must be reported immediately, as failure to do so is a legal offence.

In Scotland, farmers and livestock keepers should contact their local APHA Field Services Office to report any concerns.