site.btaAll Sheep Pox Outbreaks Have Been Eliminated

Since the beginning of 2024, a total of nine outbreaks of sheep pox have been detected in the regions of Yambol, Stara Zagora, Haskovo and Sliven. Immediately after the outbreaks were identified, measures were taken to control and eliminate the infection, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said on Friday.

Samples have been taken from all farms located in a 3-km protection zone around the outbreaks, and examinations have been carried out in the 10-kilometre surveillance zones, and sampling has been carried out only in cases of suspected disease.

The outbreaks were contained with the full cooperation of the farmers and in strict compliance with the requirements of European and national legislation for the control of epizootic diseases, the Agency said.

The disease does not pose a danger to humans, but if it spreads it causes significant economic damage, the Agency recalled.

It is mainly transmitted through direct contact between sick and healthy animals, as well as through contaminated feed, equipment and vehicles, the Agency points out, stressing that prevention is key, which means avoiding contact between animals from different herds, visits to foreign livestock farms, exchanges of animals and equipment.

On December 4, caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said that the outbreaks of sheep pox had been eliminated, and compensation had already been paid to farmers for the first one in Yambol.