The First Confirmed Outbreak of Recombinant Myxomatosis Virus in the Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus P.) Population in Hungary.

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.