Bird flu outbreak detected in the village of Tsalapitsa

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said on March 28 that an outbreak of Avian Influenza A (influenza) has been detected in a poultry breeding facility for laying hens in the village of Tsalapitsa, Plovdiv district Southern Bulgaria).

The farm raises more than 86,000 birds.

A three-kilometre protection zone, which includes Tsalapitsa and the town of Stamboliyski, has been established around the affected breeding site.

A 10-kilometre surveillance zone has been set up which includes: the town of Saedinenie in Saedinenie Municipality, the villages of Voisil, Benkovski, Radinovo and Kostievo in Maritsa Municipality, the villages of Orizari, Kadievo and Zlatitrap in Rodopi Municipality, the villages of Yoakim Gruevo, Kurtovo Konare, Novo Selo and Trivoditsi in Stamboliyski Municipality, and the villages of Hadzhievo, Govedare and Malo Konare in Pazardzhik District.

In order to contain the disease and prevent its spread, actions will be taken to humanely cull the diseased and contact ducks in the facility.

An epizootic survey and monitoring of movements of poultry and other birds, their products and animal by-products, poultry feed, as well as of the means of transport related to the technological process at the facility shall be carried out.

The Food Safety Agency reminds that duck meat and products from a farm where an outbreak of avian influenza has been identified do not pose a risk to human health.