site.btaBulgaria Takes Additional Measures against Spread of Ovine Rinderpest from Romania and Greece

Bulgaria is taking additional measures against the spread of ovine rinderpest into its territory by order of the chief executive of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) following reports of a worsening epizootic situation on account of that disease in neighbouring Romania and Greece, BFSA said in a press release on Thursday.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, BFSA and animal farmers agreed at a meeting to impose a temporary nationwide ban on fairs and markets for small ruminants.

Regional and municipal epizootic commissions will analyze the situation and will consider possible further measures to prevent ovine rinderpest from being carried over into Bulgaria.

The disease is not dangerous to humans but is very dangerous to sheep and goats and can cause considerable economic damage, BFSA said.