The killing of just over 1,000 sheep from two livestock farms in the village of Sheinovo near Kazanlak has begun due to an open outbreak of smallpox in small ruminants, BTA reported.
The animal owners have filed a report with the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency. The Regional Food Safety Directorate in Stara Zagora said that the livestock farmers will receive compensation. The owners of the farms are two brothers who have been engaged in livestock breeding for the past 30 years. They said that it will take at least 10 years to restore the herd.
A ten-kilometer surveillance zone has been introduced, covering settlements in the municipalities of Kazanlak, Pavel Banya and Gabrovo. Measures have been introduced there against the spread of the disease and clinical examinations and sampling will be carried out.
English publication: R. Petkova