09 September 2026
The Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate of Hungary's National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) officially confirmed the presence of Newcastle disease virus on September 8, 2026, in two commercial broiler holdings located in Fülöpháza, Bács-Kiskun County (Kecskemét district). This marks the first occurrence of the disease in Hungarian commercial poultry in decades, with the last official report dating back to 1992.
According to the immediate notification submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the two affected epidemiologically linked farms hold a total of approximately 219,000 broilers (95,000 and 124,000 birds, respectively). In response to the outbreak, veterinary authorities immediately enforced strict containment protocols under the national contingency plan. Stamping-out policies and official disposal were mandated for all susceptible birds on both premises.
