February 28, 2007

CSF occurrence reported in south east Bulgaria

Bulgaria started culling some 142 pigs over the weekend to prevent a Classical Swine Fever (CSF) outbreak in the south of the country from spreading, veterinary authorities said.

The disease was detected on February 22 in a farm in the village of Tenevo.

Authorities began slaughtering of all the farm's pigs to prevent the disease from spreading further.

National Veterinary Office deputy head Paskal Zhelyazkov said a 3-kilometer protection zone is already set up around the village and all animals within 10 kilometres will be tested for the virus.

This is the second CSF outbreak reported in Bulgaria this year. In January, authorities had slaughtered some 164 infected pigs at a farm in the town of Smyadovo in the North East.

Bulgaria and neighbouring Romania - both of which joined the European Union in 2007 - are currently banned from exporting live pigs, pork and other pig products to EU countries.

Bulgaria has stopped vaccinating against the disease in the past two years in line with EU regulations.

Another CSF outbreak was also reported in a 6,000-head pig farm in Russia, North East of the Black Sea.

The outbreak, killing 351 animals and infecting another 870, was fought by vaccination and transport restrictions.