site.btaEighteen Regions Have Bluetongue Outbreak; Disease Kills 700 Sheep

Sofia, August 16 (BTA) - Bluetongue has broken out in 18 regions in Bulgaria as at the present moment, and killed nearly 700 sheep, Ilian Boikovski, a chief expert in a directorate of the Bulgarian Fodo Safety Agency, said in  BTA interview. There have been a few cases of bluetongue among cattle. The infection came from Greece, Boikovski said. He said the government has made available 450,000 leva to cope with the outbreak, which is slightly over half of the amount of money demanded in compensations.

Boikovski said that inoculation could be performed but noted that as the disease has 24 serotypes, it is difficult to predict what vaccine will be needed. He said the first vaccine for the current outbreak is expected to be released in October, when however the midge vectors will no longer be active. This means the effectiveness of the vaccine will be minimal or none, he said.

Bulgaria last had a bluetongue outbreak 15 years ago, in 1999, when the disease claimed 1,000 animals, mostly on the southern parts of the country.

Boikovski set forth the measures provided for by the Bulgarian and European legislation against outbreaks of the disease.

He said there are losses on account of the disease but did not commit to assessments. The expert said that he is not aware of a ban on the import of live animals from Bulgaria imposed by any country except Russia so far. He noted that animal products are not infected and no bans may be imposed in respect of trade in them.