FARM chiefs reacting to the worrying news of a confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary are urging producers to remain vigilant.

This is the second confirmed case in Europe in recent months, and marks Hungary's first reported case in 50 years.

The disease was officially detected on March 7, at a cattle farm in north West Hungary, close to the Slovakian border.

The government has imposed an import ban on livestock from both Hungary and Slovakia.

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 2001 FMD epidemic saw Cumbria as the worse affected area in the country with 893 cases.

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

NFU President, Tom Bradshaw said: “We welcome the swift action taken in reporting the disease so that we can minimise the risk to all livestock keepers. It is now paramount that we make sure our borders are secure so that we don’t risk importing the disease into the UK.

“We are calling on the government to strictly enforce a ban on personal imports of all meat and milk and meat and milk products from the EU.

“While the FMD source remains unidentified both in Germany and Hungary, stricter border controls are essential. The government must also ensure that those fighting illegal meat imports, including the Border Force, have the resources they need to stamp out this practice.”

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.