BUDAPEST, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The current data suggest the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Hungary likely originated in Slovakia, a senior Hungarian official said Thursday.

"An epidemiological investigation is underway, and based on current data, it appears clear that this infection came from Slovakia, from the Felvidek area," Gergely Gulyas, the minister of the prime minister's office, said during a government press briefing.

Hungary has introduced strict containment measures following the spread of the virus to the village of Level, in Gyor-Moson-Sopron County (Northwest of Hungary). Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy announced the establishment of a 3-kilometer protection zone and a 10-kilometer surveillance area around the affected site.

In addition to banning livestock movement, authorities have implemented restrictions on grazing and hunting, and ordered the temporary closure of zoos in the Gyor and Mosonmagyarovar districts.

The outbreak began earlier this month, when Hungary confirmed its first case of foot-and-mouth disease in over fifty years at a cattle farm in Kisbajcs, home to approximately 1,400 animals.

Since then, the virus has spread to a second site in Level, affecting a herd of around 3,000 cattle. Although vaccination is underway to curb the spread, all infected animals must be culled.

Backyard farmers within the designated zones have been ordered to slaughter susceptible livestock -- including pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats -- by March 31. Enditem

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