January 10, 2020

More African swine fever outbreaks reported in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said laboratory tests confirmed the outbreaks, with measures already taken to control the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country, reported The Sofia Globe.

The new cases are in addition to the ASF case reported in Brestak, Varna province. The food safety agency had ordered to cull the 24,500 swine in the area, with a three-kilometre wide quarantine zone and 10-kilometre monitoring zone declared.

New outbreaks were reported at a swine breeding farm in Vesselinovo, Shoumen district (125 swine in the area), a smallholding swine farm in Gergini, Gabrovo district (29 swine in the area) and a backyard swine farm in Boboy Dol village, Sliven district. A three-kilometre quarantine zone and 10-kilometre monitoring zone have been imposed.

According to the food safety agency, action has been taken to manage and eliminate ASF according to the European and national legislation and the Emergency Control Plan for African Swine Fever rules.

The agency added that culling of swine, whether infected or in contact with infected swine, will be conducted subject to regulatory requirements.

According to the Bulgarian Agriculture Ministry, Bulgaria reported 42 ASF outbreaks with eight located in industrial swine farms last year. 140,000 swine were culled and 70 million BGN (~US$39.6 million; 1 BGN = US$0.57) was allocated towards farmers compensation and ASF prevention measures.

To improve control and management of ASF outbreaks, the Bulgarian government have planned amendments to its agricultural legalisation early this year.

-      The Sofia Globe.