site.btaAgriculture Minister: Sheep from Velingrad Farm Won't Be Culled

No sheep from a farm in Velingrad, infected with goat plague, will be culled, said Agriculture Minister Georgi Tahov at a joint news briefing with Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov in Pazardzhik, Southern Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and the Interior Ministry will take all precautions to contain the outbreak, added Tahov, calling on farmers to protect their herds and not be tempted to buy cheap livestock from neighbouring countries.

Tahov recalled that goat plague vaccines are banned in Bulgaria and urged the ban to be observed strictly.

The Agriculture Minister said that he expects from the local authorities to cooperate with livestock farmers and all institutions that are involved with the case in Velingrad.

On Thursday, the Interior Ministry said that the animals won’t be culled and that the farm will remain under quarantine and temporary restrictions will be imposed on the movement of small livestock to and from Pazardzhik Region.

The measures envisaged in a Thursday order of the Bulgarian Foods Safety Agency head take effect on Friday, the Agriculture Minister said.