site.btaBluetongue Disease Outbreak Detected near Smolyan

An outbreak of bluetongue disease has been confirmed at a livestock facility near Smolyan, the Regional Administration said. On Thursday, Deputy Regional Governor Krasimir Daskalov convened a meeting of the permanent regional epizootic commission following a positive test result and a primary outbreak.

Daskalov told the Bulgarian News Agency that the facility has some 240 registered sheep, 20% of which are showing clinical signs of the disease.

Sava Bozukov, Director of the Regional Food Safety Directorate in Smolyan, and Valentina Melemova, head of the animal health unit, said the animals have already received treatment and all necessary measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The facility has been registered, and its owners will be compensated for any economic losses.

Bluetongue disease affects ruminant animals and is not transmitted through direct contact but by small flying insects. The disease is treatable, and infected animals do not need to be culled. Although vaccines are available, they differ by serotype, which makes complete prevention difficult. The disease does not pose a risk to humans, but it can cause significant economic losses for farms due to mortality within herds.

Since the beginning of the year, most bluetongue outbreaks in the country have been detected in wildlife, based on samples from deer and roe deer tested in reference laboratories.