Bulgaria introduces preventive measures against small-ruminants plague

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency are introducing enhanced measures against the entry of small-ruminants plague (PPR) into Bulgaria. The preventive actions are due to the worsening situation in Romania and Greece, it became clear at an online meeting of the institutions with representatives of animal breeding associations.

The measures include increased control on live animals from the affected countries, embargoes, clinical examinations and sampling. The disease is not dangerous to humans, but it is highly contagious to sheep and goats and leads to great economic losses. The disease is transmitted through direct contact between animals, through virus-contaminated feed, or contact with virus-contaminated equipment and vehicles. Livestock exhibitions and markets are also temporarily prohibited, BTA reports.