Bulgaria's food safety agency (BABH) has found a second outbreak of sheep and goat pox in the village of Tatarevo, in Haskovo region. The agency has set up a 5km protection zone and a 20km surveillance zone around it.

The outbreak is on a farm in Tatarevo, in Mineralni Bani municipality, with 15 sheep and 34 goats.

Wait — correcting that: the farm has 15 sheep and 19 goats.

Bulgaria's food safety agency (BABH) has found a second outbreak of sheep and goat pox in the village of Tatarevo, in Haskovo region. The agency has set up a 5km protection zone and a 20km surveillance zone around it.

The outbreak is on a farm in Tatarevo, in Mineralni Bani municipality, with 15 sheep and 19 goats. The owner reported it himself when the animals showed clinical signs, and is fully co-operating with the veterinary authorities.

The protection zone covers Tatarevo, Mineralni Bani and Susam in Mineralni Bani municipality, and Garvanovo in Haskovo municipality. The surveillance zone includes towns and villages in seven municipalities in the regions of Haskovo, Stara Zagora, Kardzhali and Plovdiv.

In Mineralni Bani municipality, it also takes in Sirakovo, Kolets, Karamantsi, Boyan Botevo, Angel Voyvoda, Vinevo, Spahievo, Bryastovo and Sarnitsa. BABH recently found a first outbreak in Sarnitsa, on a farm with 47 sheep and 5 goats. The zone also covers the town of Dimitrovgrad and the villages of Svetlina, Bodrovo, Gorski Izvor, Varbitsa, Stalevo, Skobelevo, Yabalkovo, Velikan, Krum, Dobrich, Kasnakovo and Krepost.

It also includes the town of Haskovo and the villages of Klokotnitsa, Stambolijski, Vaglarovo, Manastir, Voyvodovo, Konush, Orlovo, Trakiets, Teketo, Galabets, Kozlets, Mandra, Dolno Golemantsi, Zornitsa, Shiroka Polyana and Nikolovo. Also covered are the village of Zlatna Livada in Chirpan municipality and the village of Beli Plast in Kardzhali municipality.

In Cherno Ochene municipality, the zone covers Minzuhar, Pchelarovo, Petelovo, Lyaskovo, Daskalovo, Gabrovo, Yonchovo, Nochevo and Dushka. In Parvomay municipality, it covers Bukovo, Bryagovo, Voden, Dragoynovo, Ezerovo, Pravoslaven, Byala Reka and Karadzhalovo.

Moving sheep and goats is banned in both zones, except for animals going straight to slaughter under set conditions. Animals must be kept indoors. Special rules in current law apply to moving and processing raw milk from the affected areas.

Officials will count the animals on the farms, update the data in the VetIS integrated information system and carry out an official veterinary check. They are also running an epidemiological investigation, which tracks the movement of animals, products, feed and vehicles linked to the outbreak. Steps have been taken to control and wipe out the disease.

Owners are entitled to compensation under the Veterinary Activity Act. The Haskovo regional food safety directorate is co-ordinating the work with local authorities.

BABH says sheep and goat pox is not dangerous to people, but its spread causes big economic losses. The agency calls on farmers to check their animals regularly, follow biosecurity rules and call a vet at once if they suspect the disease.

Reports are taken around the clock on 0700 122 99.