site.btaNearly 40,000 Chickens Affected in New Outbreak of Bird Flu in Plovdiv Region

According to information from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, a new outbreak of Influenza A, commonly known as bird flu, has been localized in a poultry farm in the Plovdiv village of Tsalapitsa, where there are 39,188 laying hens, the Plovdiv Regional Administration said on Friday.

A three-kilometre protection zone has been defined around the affected livestock facility and a 10-kilometer surveillance zone is also in effect in order to prevent the spread of the disease. The Plovdiv branch of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency is taking action to humanely kill the sick and contact birds in the facilities. An epizootic study is being carried out and control is exercised over the movements of domestic and other birds, products and animal by-products obtained from them, bird feed, as well as the means of transport related to the technological process at the facility.

"The emergence of new outbreaks is possible, therefore we are sending letters to all mayors of municipalities, and through them to the mayors of all settlements, to warn them of special vigilance on the part of owners of farms and personal farms," ​​said Chavdar Chavdarov, Director of the Regional Directorate for Food Safety in Plovdiv. He advised that the recommendations of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency be strictly followed in order to stop the spread of the infection.