A new outbreak of sheep and goat pox has hit a farm in the village of Sarpitsa, in Mineralni Bani municipality, Haskovo province, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency says. The farm keeps 47 sheep and 5 goats.

Officials have set up a 5-km protection zone and a 20-km surveillance zone around the farm. The protection zone covers seven villages in Mineralni Bani municipality: Sarpitsa, Angel Voyvoda, Boyan Botevo, Vinevo, Karamantsi, Kolets and Spahievo.

The surveillance zone also takes in five more villages in Mineralni Bani municipality: Mineralni Bani, Sirakovo, Susam, Tatarevo and Bryastovo. In Haskovo municipality, also in Haskovo province, it covers the town of Haskovo itself and the villages of Vagalarovo, Golemantsi, Galabets, Dolno Golemantsi, Zornitsa, Kozlets, Konush, Mandra, Nikolovo, Teketo, Trakiets and Shiroka Polyana. In Dimitrovgrad municipality, also in Haskovo province, the rules apply to Bodrovo, Gorski Izvor and Svetlina.

In Kardzhali province, the surveillance zone covers several villages in Kardzhali municipality: Bagra, Beli Plast, Bozhak, Visoka, Varbentsi, Golyama Bara, Dazhdovnitsa, Zaychino, Zvanche, Ilinitsa, Kostino, Krushevska, Krushka, Lyulyakovo, Martino, Nenkovo, Ohlyuvets, Padartsi, Sevdalina, Skalna Glava, Sokolyane, Stremovo, Stremtsi, Tri Mogili, Hodzhovtsi, Cheganstsi, Cherna Skala, Chilik and Yastreb. In Chernoochene municipality, also in Kardzhali province, the zone takes in Chernoochene itself and a long list of other villages: Bakalite, Bezvodno, Beli Vir, Besnurka, Bozhurtsi, Borovsko, Bostantsi, Barza Reka, Versko, Vodach, Vozhdovo, Voynovo, Vazel, Gabrovo, Daskalovo, Draganovo, Dushka, Dyadovsko, Zheleznik, Zhenda, Zhitnitsa, Yonchovo, Kableshkovo, Kanyak, Komuniga, Kutsovo, Lyaskovo, Minzuhar, Murga, Nebeska, Novi Pazar, Novoselishte, Nochevo, Panichkovo, Patitsa, Petelovo, Pryaporets, Pchelarovo, Rusalina, Svobodinovo, Sokolite, Srednevo, Strazhitsa, Cherna Niva, Yabalcheni and Yavorovo. In Ardino municipality, also in Kardzhali province, only the village of Doyrantsi is included.

The zone also reaches into Plovdiv province. In Asenovgrad municipality it covers Zhalti Kamak, Lenovo, Novakovo, Tri Mogili and Uzunovo, and in Parvomay municipality it covers Bryagovo, Bukovo, Voden, Dragoynovo, Ezerovo, Iskra and Pravoslaven.

Farmers in both zones cannot move sheep or goats. The only exception is for animals going straight to slaughter, under set rules. Farmers can only keep their animals indoors, in sheds.

Vets will count every animal on the farms in both zones and log the numbers in the VetIS system. Official vet checks are already under way on the farms.

Investigators are also tracking the movement of animals, animal products, feed and vehicles linked to the farm. Moving and processing raw milk from the affected areas is now subject to special rules too.

The steps to contain and stamp out the disease follow EU and Bulgarian law, and farmers will get compensation under the Veterinary Medicine Act.

The Haskovo regional food safety office acted as soon as it got the report and is now working with local authorities on the response.

The disease poses no risk to people, but if it spreads it can cause serious economic damage, the food safety agency says. It is asking farmers to keep tight biosecurity and check their animals every day, so any new case is caught early. Farmers who suspect sheep or goat pox must tell a vet at once, the agency says, since a fast report is key to stopping the disease from spreading. Reports can also be made on the agency's 24-hour hotline, 0 700 122 99.

Earlier this week the food safety agency reported a second outbreak of sheep and goat pox, on a farm with 7 sheep and goats in the village of Tyanevo, Simeonovgrad municipality, Haskovo province.