Hungary: HPAI outbreaks
In October 2024, animal health authorities confirmed primary outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of HPAI in five counties, mostly in Eastern Hungary, including Békés, JászNagykun-Szolnok, Csongrád-Csanád, Hajdú-Bihar, and Fejér counties:
- On September 30, 2024, HPAI symptoms (increased mortality, reduced feed and water intake) emerged at a duck operation in Füzesgyarmat (Békés County), where 25,000 birds were kept.
- On October 3, 2024, authorities detected primary HPAI infections at a foie-gras goose holdingin Öcsöd (Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County) with a population of 2,500 geese.
- On October 11, 2024, increased mortality and neurological symptoms were also observed at aduck farm of 9.500 waterfowl in Pusztaszer (Csongrád-Csanád County).
- On October 14, 2024, an HPAI primary outbreak was detected in Hajdú-Bihar County, inHajdúnánás, at a mulard duck operation with 17,000 birds.
The disease also appeared in thewestern part of the country, in Mezőfalva, at another duck farm in Fejér County where 23,570 waterfowl were kept. The National Reference Laboratory confirmed the primary outbreaks and verified the presence of the H5N1 strain of HPAI at the mentioned operations.