site.btaNew Hotspot of Avian Influenza Detected in Plovdiv Region

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has confirmed a new hotspot of avian influenza type A in birds in Plovdiv Region (South Central Bulgaria), the BFSA said in a press release. The virus was found in a laying hens farm within the territory of Assenovgrad.

This is the third hotspot established in a facility of this owner since 2019.

An order has been issued to take measures to control the outbreak. The plan is to humanely kill the sick and contact birds in the facility and dispose of the corpses under official supervision, and in a way that prevents the spread of the disease, the BFSA specified. There are around 177,000 birds at the farm.

A 3-kilometre protection zone has been set up around the affected facility, as well as a 10-kilometre monitoring zone.

The authorities are carrying out epizootic research and tracking the movements of poultry and other birds, eggs, products and animal by-products derived from them, fodder for birds, and vehicles related to the technological process in the sites, the press release reads.  

The BFSA recalls that poultry meat and products from a facility where bird influenza has been detected, do not pose a threat to human health when the hygiene rules for food preparation at home are observed.