site.btaAgriculture Minister:3 Mln Lv Will be Allocated for Bluetongue Vaccines

Sofia, August 19 (BTA) - The authorities will allocate three million leva for bluetongue vaccines, said Tuesday Agriculture Minister Vassil Groudev in the village of Mokren, Southeastern Bulgaria. He said that 1,500 animals and 230 areas across the country have been affected by the disease.

Vaccination activities may start at the end of winter, he said, giving assurances that compensation paid to farmers will be according to market prices. Groudev said that negotiations are underway with the European Commission for assistance to fight the disease and implement vaccinations.

In Mokren, Groudev met local farmers from the nearby villages of Ichera and Yablanovo where the disease has spread. There are altogether 191 animals, Plamen Penhev, head of the Sliven Food Safety Agency told journalists. The regional epizootic commission has decided that dead animals will be disposed of in lye pits. Meat and milk sales have been banned within a 20-km zone from the affected areas.

Also on Tuesday, Bourgas Regional Governor Pavel Marinov banned cattle markets and exhibitions in the region, night grazing and the transportation of animals as the risk of infection is highest then. The authorities should disinsect in and around animal quarters, dung heaps and watering places within 20 km from the areas affected by bluetongue.

Beekeepers should be warned well in advance before disinsection in order to prevent bee poisoining.

Under the order, local epizootic commissions should promptly meet to set out specific measures to prevent the disease from spreading.