According to the ministry, farmers whose poultry were culled to prevent further spread of the deadly virus have received 2.7 billion forints in compensation, and negotiations are under way to pay compensation to other farms affected by the epidemic.

Poultry producer Master Good chief László Bárány told the paper that the poultry sector had suffered damages of a total 6.5 billion forints including the indirect impacts.

He compared the epidemic in the central parts of eastern Hungary to an “obliteration bombing” and insisted that the sector could not cope without government and European Union assistance.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.