Bird flu in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is situated in southeastern Europe, having Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Romania, Macedonia and the Black Sea along its borders. Bulgarian economy took a nosedive during the 1990’s, but has recovered in recent years and the country is to become a member of the European Union in 2006.

Bulgarian strain of bird flu harmless for humans

Wednesday, August 9th, 2006

Confirming preliminary tests, the European Union’s reference avian influenza laboratory in Weybridge, UK, says that the virus found in dead poultry from the Bulgarian village of Slanchogled has proved innocuous to humans. It seems the birds had been infected with a combination of mild avian influenza and Newcastle disease. It is none of the deadly strains, like H5N1 or H7N1, as British scientists declare. Samples taken from the diseased birds in Bulgaria have been implanted in chicken embryos and research will continue until a correct identification of the virus strain. The outbreak from the village of Slanchogled, in southern Bulgaria, led to the culling of more than 1,000 fowl.

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Bulgaria gives more funds to bird flu effort

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

Additional funds have been allocated for measures to prevent the spread of bird flu in Bulgaria. After containing the virus outbreak in Slunchogled village, as veterinarians culled the entire poultry stock in the region, government officials say prevention measures must be continued and the effort updated to ensure further outbreaks are dealt with rapidly and efficiently. The extra 50,000 leva will be used for protective clothing and disinfectants, as the Bulgarian National Radio reported. Some 15,000 leva will be given to local poultry owners from the region, as compensation for the destroyed birds. The first tests from the area revealed that the virus causing the infection was not H5N1, the most dangerous strain of bird flu known yet. Flu medicines such as Tamiflu have been provided to hospitals in Sofia and Varna.

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Bulgaria fearing EU measures following bird flu outbreak

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

Following the discovery of a bird flu outbreak in the village of Slunchogled, in the south of the country, Bulgaria fears EU will impose further limitations which could affect its poultry industry. Authorities have already placed a ban on the sale of live birds and the transportation of animals in the region has been forbidden. On Sunday, local veterinarians said that the outbreak was under control, following the culling of all the birds in the area. A ban on poultry and specific products exports would hit the industry even harder, but reports say the European Commission might show lenience and ban only the affected regions of Bulgaria from exporting those products. The bird flu threat has already diminished demand for poultry meat in the country since the beginning of the year. However, experts say that thorough cooking of the meat destroys the virus, thus making it safe to consume.

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Bulgaria containing bird flu outbreak

Monday, July 24th, 2006
The bird flu outbreak spotted in the village of Slanchogled, in southern Bulgaria, is being kept under control. A quarantine of 21 days on the village will permanently eliminate the virus and prevent its spreading, officials said. It seems that preliminary tests deny the possibility of the virus being the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. Instead, experts believe the fowl was most probably infected with a combination of bird flu and Newcastle disease. Strict prevention methods have been taken, as all supplies to the village are regular and the perimeter around the village is closely supervised. Authorities say the pace of life in the village is slowly returning back to normal and the culling of all the birds has been finished. A ban on trade with live poultry and such products has been placed on the entire region.

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Virus detected in Bulgaria unlikely to be H5N1

Saturday, July 22nd, 2006
The bird flu strain discovered in the Kardzhali region in south Bulgaria is unlikely to be the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, as announced by the Bulgarian National Radio yesterday. The preliminary tests taking place in a Bulgarian laboratory will be confirmed or denied by the final results which are to come from the United Kingdom within 14 days. About 1,500 fowl have been killed in the village of Slanchogled and compensations to the poultry owners will be given starting from Monday. A 3 kilometers perimeter around the settlement remains under observation, as the European Commission will decide on Monday if a ban on bird products from Bulgaria will be put in place.

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First domestic bird flu case reported in Bulgaria

Friday, July 21st, 2006
Thursday was the day that Bulgarian authorities reported the first case of domestic fowl being infected with the bird flu virus. The case was spotted in the village of Slanchogled, near Kurdzhali. Massive poultry deaths alerted local veterinaries, who performed tests on local fowl and detected the disease. The Agriculture Ministry held a special press conference to announce the case, but it is now yet know whether the virus is the most dangerous H5N1 strain. All fowl and turkeys from three farms were culled, while a massive disinfection is being performed and passing trucks and vehicles are being thoroughly controlled. Two people who had had close contact with the infected birds are udner close surveillance. The farmers who had to suffer from the culling of the birds will be offered financial compensation.

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Bulgaria sets up bird flu laboratory

Tuesday, July 4th, 2006
Bulgary intends to build its first bird flu laboratory situated outside its capital by the end of the year, in Aksakovo, as reported by the head of the National Veterinary Medical Service, Zheko Baichev. The facility’s construction has already begun and is scheduled to last until the end of the year. The United States will provide an aid worth around 450,000 dollars, including medical equipment. The national government will provide another quarter of a million dollars for the project. Another official declared two other inspection facilities will be designed for marine traffic and are to be built at Varna and Bourgas.

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