site.btaBird Flu Outbreak Detected at Farm with Some 100,000 Mule Ducks in Southern Bulgaria

An outbreak of bird flu has been detected at a farm with around 100,000 mule ducks near the village of Voyvodovo in the Haskovo Region (Southern Bulgaria), Haskovo's Regional Food Safety Directorate Head Georgi Iliev announced at an extraordinary meeting of the Regional Epizootic Commission on Monday.

The alert about bird fatalities was received last Friday, and laboratory testing of samples at the national reference laboratory confirmed influenza strain H5N1, Iliev said. The humane culling of the birds is now underway, after which a full disinfection of the site will be carried out.

Biosecurity measures have been ordered - a three-kilometer protection zone and a ten-kilometer surveillance zone are being established. Restrictions are being introduced on the movement of domestic, wild, and other birds, hatching eggs, poultry meat, poultry products, and eggs. The organization and holding of markets, exhibitions, and other gatherings of birds are prohibited, as is the release of birds for the restocking of game populations.

A census and registration of livestock facilities is also beginning, along with clinical examinations of birds and the collection of samples for laboratory testing in all settlements and industrial sites within the designated zones. The owners of the affected poultry farm will be compensated, Iliev assured.