Bulgaria reports bird flu outbreak in village in Plovdiv district
A laboratory test has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza on a farm in the village of Manolsko Konare in the Maritsa municipality in the Plovdiv district, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said on October 5.
The agency said that it had implemented all the steps required by Bulgarian law to eradicate the disease.
Humane killing and destruction of all birds kept on the affected holding had been carried out, followed by cleansing and disinfection.
A three-kilometre protection zone and a 10-kilometre surveillance zone around the area where the disease was detected had been declared.
Movement of birds and bird products in and out of the protection and surveillance zones had been prohibited.
In both areas, the sale and movement of domestic, wild and breeding birds and eggs had been prohibited.
Daily clinical examinations of birds in other villages and towns in the protection zone were being carried out. There was enhanced monitoring at poultry farms and water basins.
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said that feed should be kept indoors to avoid the possibility of it being infected by wild birds.
At this stage, no people were affected and there was no danger to consumers. The virus can cause mild respiratory disease, with infection possible if contaminated farm dust is inhaled or there is direct contact with people with infected birds, the agency said.
(Photo: ©patrizio martorana)
