January 18, 2011

Bulgaria confirms new FMD outbreak

Around 200 domestic animals, which include cattle and pigs, will be culled in a southeastern Bulgarian village after another case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected, the National Veterinary Service said Monday (Jan 17).

Last week, veterinaries started culling over 500 animals in the village of Kosti near the Turkish border to contain the highly contagious disease from spreading after 37 animals tested positive for the infection.

"The samples for foot-and-mouth of four bulls in the village of Rezovo were positive. To prevent the spread of the infection all animals in the village must be killed," the veterinary service said.

Some 21 buffalos which entered the region of Rezovo from Turkey will also be culled. The access of people to the village, has been limited, while the transport of animals is now strictly forbidden.

After the FMD outbreak was first reported in early January, Bulgaria closed livestock markets and banned the transport of live animals in seven regions in eastern and southern Bulgaria, but the restrictions were later loosened.

The EU country said the ban would remain only for the region of the Black Sea city of Burgas where the infection was first found earlier in a wild boar.