site.btaAuthorities Report Three Primary Avian Flu Events in NW and Southern Bulgaria

Authorities Report Three Primary  Avian Flu Events in NW and Southern Bulgaria

Sofia, December 20 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency reports three primary avian flu events in the northwestern regions of Vidin and Vratsa, and Plovdiv in the south of the country. No people have been affected and there is no risk to consumers of poultry products, the Agency said.

Due to the worsened epizootic situation across Europe, the Agency has tightened controls and is stepping up tests in poultry farms. During such tests, avian flu was established in a batch of 3,150 one-day ducklings a poultry farm in Manole, Plovdiv Region, had just received from Hungary.

All sick and vulnerable birds have been destroyed and disposed of in a manner that guarantees the virus would be destroyed.

All other poultry shipments from Hungary have been checked and none has tested positive for avian flu.

As a further precaution, hunting for game birds is banned from December 19. Any contact with wild birds of passage are to be avoided because they are believed to be the most likely carrier of the virus.

Checkups across the country are stepped up.

Poultry markets are banned.

The Food Safety Agency says that consumption of poultry and poultry products carries no health risk as long as basic personal hygiene measures are applied.

Farmers who keep poultry in their farm yards are advised to wear farm-work-only clothing that they should not bring into their homes.