Authorities in Hungary have confirmed another case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the country, the fifth case there since early March.

The presence of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed by Hungary's National Food Chain Safety Authority laboratory on a farm in the village Rabapordany yesterday (Thursday, April 17).

The site of this latest case is, like the previous four cases, located in Gyor-Moson-Sopron county, in the northwest of the country.

One cow from the herd of around 600 animals showed symptoms of the disease during morning milking. The suspicion of FMD was confirmed by the laboratory yesterday afternoon, and official measures came into effect immediately.

The area under further restriction was expanded to include new villages, and the national chief veterinarian ordered a movement restriction for susceptible animals until midnight on April 21.

Vaccination of the 600-animal herd was started, and the animals showing symptoms of foot and mouth disease were culled. The culling of the remaining animals on the holding will begin "as soon as possible", authorities said.

An epidemiological investigation has been launched to determine the source of infection. Officials are primarily focusing on tracing contact farms associated with the infected farm.

Based on the information available so far, the appearance of the virus cannot be traced back to previous outbreaks. Samples were taken at the infected farm on March 11 and 23, and at an adjacent pig farm on April 4, 9 and 10, all of which yielded negative results, officials said.

The latest case in Hungary adds to the ongoing outbreak both there and in neighbouring Slovakia, where a state of emergency was announced, and members of the defence forces were brought in to assist police in enforcing animal movement restrictions and decontamination of vehicles.

There have now been six cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Slovakia.

Speaking at a meeting of country's Central Crisis Staff earlier this month, Matus Sutaj Estok, Slovakia's minister of the interior, said: "We are launching random checks on farms. Our goal is to check how the measures are being followed in practice. That is why we are closing the borders so that police officers are also available for checks on agricultural enterprises."

Slovakia has closed 17 border crossings, mainly with Hungary, in response the foot-and-mouth outbreaks.