The implementations of coordinated, standardised, and sustained oral rabies vaccination (ORV) campaigns over large areas have led to the almost elimination of sylvatic rabies from the European Union (EU) territory at the approach of 2020. The annual number of rabies cases reported within EU territory indeed dropped from around 13,000 cases in 1990 to less than 10 cases over the 2017–2019 period. Unfortunately, since 2020, the EU territory has faced two major rabies re-emergence events of rabies lyssavirus in non-flying animals. The first sylvatic rabies outbreak, already described, occurred in 2021 and 2022 in Poland in the Mazowieckie voivodeship, involving the Central Europe variant, while the second one affecting Romania, Hungaria, and Slovakia, increased considerably at the end of 2022 and involved the North East Europe variant only. Thus, Hungary and Slovakia that did not record a single case since 5–7 years, respectively, faced new rabies outbreaks in 2022. This article, therefore, presents these two epidemiological events and discusses the importance and challenges of maintaining ORV programmes and immune belts in the long term, particularly in a complicated context of a pandemic affecting organisation of human societies and of geopolitical conflicts.

Bats are vital parts of ecosystems but also act as important reservoirs of viruses that can infect humans. Studying bat-borne viruses is essential for preventing spillover events, and passive surveillance offers a promising, bat-friendly approach. Among these viruses, lyssaviruses are a major public health concern because infection in humans is almost always fatal. In Europe, the European bat lyssavirus type 1 (EBLV-1) is the most widespread. We aimed to expand the Hungarian rabies surveillance system into a One Health-based passive surveillance framework for multiple bat viruses, using lyssaviruses and filoviruses as examples. Dead-found or injured bats that died despite care were collected for examination. In total, 208 bats from 15 species were tested for lyssaviruses and Lloviu virus. Three serotine bats (Cnephaeus serotinus, formerly Eptesicus) tested positive for EBLV-1, and complete viral genomes were obtained. All sequences belonged to the EBLV-1a lineage, closely related to previously described Hungarian strains. All bats tested negative for Lloviu virus. These results confirm the feasibility of passive surveillance for detecting bat-borne viruses and highlight the importance of collaborative monitoring systems for future zoonotic outbreak preparedness.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) affects both domestic and wild carnivores and is associated with a high mortality rate. The virus can cross species barriers, infecting a wide range of mammals, which raises concerns for both wildlife conservation and domestic animal health. During our study, we processed a total of n = 552 oral and rectal swab samples from n = 260 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and n = 16 golden jackals (Canis aureus). The samples were collected by the National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH) as part of a Rabies monitoring programme from Hungary in 2024. We performed a Real-Time RT-PCR, followed by a CDV-specific amplicon-based sequencing method using Oxford Nanopore Technologies to obtain the complete genome. All golden jackal samples tested negative, while both oral and rectal samples of one red fox tested positive for viral RNA. From this positive sample, we were able to sequence a partial CDV genome. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the haemagglutinin gene, our CDV sequence was assigned to the Europe lineage, one of the endemic lineages in the continent, infecting both threatened and common animals. This finding highlights the ongoing presence of CDV in wildlife populations and illustrates the value of integrated monitoring systems.

We investigated the emergence and spread of the ha‐MYXV (recombinant myxoma virus) in the brown hare ( Lepus europaeus ) population in Hungary. During PCR genetic analysis of 37 samples collected between October 7 and 28, 2025, at the beginning of the outbreak, we found recombinant myxoma virus DNA in 89.2% of the samples, which are the first known ha‐MYXV type epidemic infections in brown hares in Hungary. The recombinant MYXV infecting Lagomorpha species first entered western Hungary as a result of an outbreak near Vienna (Austria), and then appeared in the eastern part of the country within a week. Based on European experience, the new virus strain will have a significant impact on the Hungarian populations of brown hares, which calls into question the possibility of profitable game management with this species in many areas, foreshadowing the need for nationwide monitoring system studies to map the epidemiological characteristics of recombinant MYXV.

Background: The objective of our study was to identify supporting and/or opposing arguments regarding whether it is worthwhile to launch—or relaunch—a nationwide program against leptospirosis in Hungarian swine herds, modeled after the successful eradication programs for Aujeszky's disease and PRRS. It is essential to determine which Leptospira serogroups currently infect Hungarian swine herds and the nationwide distribution of this infection. It is of particular importance to ascertain the prevalence of the swine-adapted (hosted) Leptospira strains (pomona, tarassovi, bratislava)—specifically, in how many herds and across what geographical area they occur, and what percentage of breeding stock is affected—as well as how the infection was introduced to the farm. Furthermore, we sought to identify the available options for eliminating specific Leptospira serovars and achieving disease-free status for individual herds. Methods: We had analysis of more than 180,000 serum samples, across 4 years including seroprevalence for Pomona, Tarassovi, Bratislava and Icterohaemorrhagiae. Antibodies against incidental serovars (Sejroe, Canicola, Grippotyphosa) occurred rarely. Authors describe their experiences with establishing a new, import based unit with Bratislava, and an eradication method of a large-scale swine herd after pomona infection. Conclusion: Our aim was to define the current leptospirosis status in domestic herds and provide recommendations. Hungary must decide whether to preserve swine leptospirosis freedom—a status that delivers cost savings by eliminating routine vaccination and treatment costs, provides market value for domestic swine health, and protects against a zoonosis—or leave infection unregulated and manage disease conventionally through vaccines and antibiotics, as practiced elsewhere in the EU.