site.btaGoat Plague Reference Lab Test Results Reliable - Deputy Agriculture Minister

The results of the reference laboratories are reliable and are considered by the European Union (EU) to be 100% reliable. Bulgaria's national reference laboratory is included in the EU list of laboratories that can diagnose this disease, the tests are 100% accurate, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Deyan Stratev on Bulgarian National TV. He was commenting the outbreak of goat plague in farms in the southern town of Velingrad at the beginning of the week. 

The infected sheep must be culled, which the farmers oppose, claiming their animals were healthy and insisting on independent lab testing. There was a protest on Saturday to express support.

Stratev also explained the chronology of events. The animals had been treated several times by some of the practising veterinarians and after several unsuccessful attempts, they had sought out the veterinarian in charge of the farm, Stratev explained. That veterinarian, in turn, has sought the help of official veterinarians from regional food safety services. When they went on site, they carried out an examination and took samples, which came out positive for plague, the Deputy Minister added. 

Stratev explained that there is another option - sending samples to the European Reference Laboratory, which is located in France, but in order for that to happen, these samples have to be processed in Bulgarian reference laboratories, i.e. they have to be confirmed in Bulgarian laboratories and then sent to France.  

The total amount that the farmers will receive for compensation is over 700,000 BGN, explained Stratev. He added that this is above the market price.