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| Credit Bulgarian NVS |
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Bulgaria, which reported 29 outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 during 2018, hadn't reported any outbreaks in 2019 until about 3 weeks ago, when a farm in the Lovech Region reported an outbreak of HPAI H5.
The exact subtype wasn't provided in either the NVS statement or the OIE report, although recent history would suggest HPAI H5N8.We've another report today from the same region, of a second farm in the village of Yoglav, affected by HPAI H5 (full subtype not provided).
BVBH found Avian influenza in the village of Yoglav, Lovech region
03.04.2019
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BSA) found a new outbreak of the bird flu (H5) disease in a registered holding in the village of Yoglav, Lovech, Lovech region. Samples were confirmed on Tuesday, April 2, by the National Reference Laboratory of the National Diagnostic Research Veterinary Medical Institute.
The affected birds in the site are duck moths. For the control and eradication of the disease, BSA applies all measures in accordance with the legislation in force. An Order of the Executive Director of the BHAH has identified actions to eradicate the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza and to spread the infection among birds in the area.
Humane killing and destruction of all birds kept on the site is carried out, followed by cleansing and disinfection. A 3-kilometer safety zone and a 10-kilometer surveillance zone around the outbreak of the disease 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.
After the outbreak of the disease in March 2019 in the village of Lisec, the daily clinical examinations of the birds kept in the other villages in the protection zone continued and an epizootic study was carried out on the causes that led to the disease.
The regional and municipal epizootic commissions are currently convened. The RHI-Lovech was informed about this case and all preventive measures were taken to protect the health of the people.
At this stage, there are no people affected and there is no danger to consumers. Possible contamination may occur in direct contact with sick birds.
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 on the decline for the past 18 months following its record setting European epizootic over the winter of 2016-2017.
The two exceptions being in Western Russia (see Brief ESA Report On HPAI H5N2 & H5Nx In Russia) and Bulgaria (see UK DEFRA: SitRep On HPAI H5N8 In Bulgaria).With the spring migration now well underway, and millions of birds following the global flyways north towards their summer roosting grounds, we are on alert again for outbreaks of avian flu along their path.
While southbound migrations have historically sparked the most avian flu outbreaks, there is always a concern over what might come back next fall after viruses picked up by northbound migratory birds spend the summer circulating in the world's high latitude nesting areas.
