January 15, 2007

Newcastle disease breaks out among poultry in Bulgaria

Bulgarian authorities have started culling infected birds after an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the north-west region of the country was reported.

About 120 birds raised in five backyards breeding farms in villages have died of Newcastle disease. The disease is highly contagious among birds but is no danger to humans.

The veterinary services ordered the culling of all infected poultry to halt the disease. The village has 13,000 hens, turkeys and other birds.

A ban on trading poultry and poultry products was also imposed in the area and farmers were urged to keep poultry indoors.

The area has no industrial poultry farms.