Bulgaria Reports 2 More HPAI H5 Outbreaks - Plovdiv District

Credit BABH

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In 2018 Bulgaria reported  29 outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 - many of which were centered around the south-central district of Plovdiv.  After a quiet January and February, we began to see renewed avian flu activity in mid-March, albeit  further north, in the Lovech Region.

Four days ago, in Bulgaria Reports New Farm Outbreak Of HPAI H5 Avian Flu, we saw a second outbreak from Lovech

This weekend the Bulgarian Agency for Food Safety is reporting two more outbreaks - this time in the previously hard-hit Plovdiv District . While the exact subtype hasn't been specified for these recent outbreaks - based on past reports - the culprit is likely HPAI H5N8.

New cases of Avian Influenza in Plovdiv region

05.04.2019 

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BSA) has identified new outbreaks of the H5 avian influenza in a registered breeding establishment in the town of Asenovgrad, Asenovgrad municipality, Plovdiv region and in a private kindergarten in the village of Krumovo, Rodopi municipality, Plovdiv district . Samples were confirmed today, April 5, by the National Reference Laboratory of the National Diagnostic Research Veterinary Medical Institute.

Affected birds in the sites are laying hens. For the control and eradication of the disease, BSA applies all measures in accordance with the legislation in force. With the Agency 's orders, actions have been identified to eradicate outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza and to spread the infection among birds in the area.

Humane killing and destruction of the affected birds kept in the premises is to be carried out, followed by cleansing and disinfection. Three-kilometer protection zones and 10-kilometer surveillance zones around the outbreaks have been identified. The movement of birds and their products into and out of the protection and surveillance zones is prohibited. In both areas, the marketing and movement of domestic, wild and other breeding and breeding eggs and the displacement of birds for the renewal of the wild game stock is prohibited.

Clinical examinations of the birds kept in other settlements in the protection zones will be carried out and an epizootic study of the causes leading to the disease will be carried out.

The district and the municipal epizootic commissions will be convened.

At this stage, there are no people affected and there is no danger to consumers. Eggs are not dangerous for human consumption. Possible contamination may occur in direct contact with sick birds. In order to prevent the spread of the disease in other birds, BFSA also withdraws commercially produced eggs from the laying hens farm.

The NVS reminds that feed and feed materials should be kept indoors. This avoids the possibility of wild feathered animals to infect the feed, and hence the animals to be infected with a virus.

Up-to-date information on outbreaks in the country and on the movement of the bird flu Influenza can be found in the interactive map published on the site of BSAF here . About the disease see: https://bit.ly/2OGJi7L .

HPAI H5N8 activity - outside of the Middle East and parts of Africa - has been in steep decline for nearly two years following its record setting European epizootic over the winter of 2016-2017.

Two notable exceptions have been in Western Russia (see Brief ESA Report On HPAI H5N2 & H5Nx In Russia) and Bulgaria (see UK DEFRA: SitRep On HPAI H5N8 In Bulgaria).

Despite this welcomed pullback in avian flu activity, HPAI H5's persistence - and its proclivity for reassorting with other viruses - means that we can't allow ourselves to become complacent during this lull.

The recent emergence of a new, reassorted HPAI H5N2 virus in Egypt, and similar reports last year in Russia, are reminders of how quickly things can change in the flu world.