site.btaFood Safety Agency Identifies Two Sheep and Goat Pox Outbreaks in Skutare

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) identified two outbreaks of sheep and goat pox in the village of Skutare, Maritsa municipality, South Central Bulgaria, BFSA said on Tuesday. 

One of the outbreaks has been categorized as primary and the other as secondary, following a report from owners of private farms housing a total of 34 small ruminants.

A 3 km protection zone has been established around the outbreaks, covering the villages of Skutare, Trilistnik and Rogosh. A 10 km surveillance zone has also been set up, including the villages of Yasno Pole, Manolsko Konare, Manole, Voyvodinovo, Zhelyazno, Trud, Krisslovo, Kalekovets, Dink, Stryama, Parchevich borough in Rakovski, as well as Katunitsa, Yagodovo, and the city of Plovdiv.

Control measures have been taken to contain and eliminate the disease in line with European and national legislation. These include the humane culling and disposal of all infected and contact small ruminants on the affected holdings, BFSA added.

Owners will be compensated in accordance with the Veterinary Practice Act. The disease poses no risk to humans but can cause significant economic losses if it spreads further.