Sheep and goat pox found in two villages near Kyustendil, 37 animals infected

Bulgaria's food safety agency has found two new outbreaks of sheep and goat pox in Kyustendil province. The infected animals were kept at small-ruminant farms in the villages of Pastuh, in Nevestino municipality, and Novi Chiflik, in Kyustendil municipality, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) said.

The Pastuh farm has 29 sheep and goats, and the one in Novi Chiflik has 8. Both are primary outbreaks.

Authorities have set up a 5km protection zone and a 20km surveillance zone around each site. The zone around Pastuh covers Vaksevo, Drumohar, Eremia, Mǎrvodol, Pastuh and Chetirtsi in Nevestino municipality, Vukovo and Skrino in Boboshevo municipality, and Blato and Lokvata in Bobov Dol municipality. The zone around Novi Chiflik covers Bagrentsi, Bersin, Girchevtsi, Gorna Grashtitsa, Granitsa, Dolna Grashtitsa, Katrishte, Novi Chiflik and Tarnovlag in Kyustendil municipality, and Lilyach, Nevestino and Nedelkova Grashtitsa in Nevestino municipality.

Moving sheep and goats inside these zones is banned, except for animals sent straight to slaughter under set conditions. Animals must stay indoors, and raw milk from the affected areas falls under special rules for transport and processing.

Officials will count every animal on all farms in both zones and update the figures in the VetIS national database. Vets will also carry out official checks at the farms. Bulgaria is dealing with the outbreak under EU and national rules.

The disease does not harm people, but it can cause heavy losses for farmers if it spreads. The BFSA has urged farmers to stay alert and stick closely to biosecurity rules. It said regular checks on animals help catch the disease early, while reporting it fast limits how far it spreads. Farmers who suspect an infection should call a vet right away. Reports can be made around the clock on 0 700 122 99.

Before the Kyustendil cases, the BFSA had already reported an outbreak in the village of Sarnitsa, in Mineralni Bani municipality, Haskovo province. That outbreak was reported on October 1, at a farm with 47 sheep and 5 goats.