The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has detected an outbreak of Influenza A (bird flu) at a livestock facility in the village of Momino Selo, Rakovski Municipality, Plovdiv District, which houses approximately 8,000 Muscovy ducks. As a result, specific restrictions have been implemented in the Plovdiv region.
The designated control zones include:
- A 3-kilometer protection zone, which includes the villages of Momino Selo (Rakovski Municipality) and Glavatar (Kaloyanovo Municipality);
- A 10-kilometer surveillance zone, covering the following settlements in the Plovdiv region: the town of Rakovski and the village of Stryama (Rakovski Municipality); the villages of Dink, Kalekovets, Krislovo, and Yasno Pole (Maritsa Municipality); the villages of Razhevo, Razhevo Konare, and Dalgopolye (Kaloyanovo Municipality), as well as the villages of Padarsko, Streltsi, Borets, and Otets Kirilovo (Brezovo Municipality).
To eradicate the disease and halt its spread, measures are being applied in accordance with national and European legislation. These actions involve the disinfection and cleaning of the affected farm unit, its equipment, and its transport vehicles. In parallel, an epizootic investigation is being conducted to track the movement of domestic and other birds, products and animal by-products derived from them, feed, as well as transport related to the technological process within the zones.
Strict rules regarding the rearing and movement of birds have been imposed within these zones. The release of birds for the purpose of replenishing game stocks is prohibited, and all birds must be kept in enclosed facilities. The process includes:
- Conducting clinical examinations and counts;
- Increased monitoring of poultry facilities and inspections to ensure compliance with biosecurity measures;
- Taking samples for laboratory testing whenever the presence of the disease is suspected;
- Restricting the trade and movement of birds, eggs, poultry meat, and other poultry products, which may only occur if the implemented measures are strictly followed.
These restrictions come in the context of the ban on organizing poultry exhibitions, markets, and fairs across the entire country, which has been in effect since November 2023. Media reports remind that according to data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published in March this year, cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Europe began to decrease after last year's autumn-winter period, during which the spread of the virus among waterfowl reached its highest level in five years.