Bulgaria reports two more outbreaks of virulent bird flu

SOFIA (Reuters) – A virulent bird flu virus has spread to two more regions in Bulgaria prompting veterinary authorities to announce a cull of nearly 8,000 ducks, the Balkan country’s food safety agency said on Sunday.

“A total of four outbreaks of bird flu are registered in Bulgarian territory at the moment,” the agency said.

Almost 8,000 ducks were culled after an outbreak occurred on a farm in the southern village of Zimnitsa in Yambol region, the agency said, adding susceptible animals were also killed at a neighboring livestock site as part of measures to eradicate and prevent the spread of the disease.

Another outbreak was discovered in a backyard in Glushnik in the southern region of Sliven.

Last month, the virus was found on a farm in the village of Stefanovo in the northeastern region of Dobric and in a backyard in Uzundzhovo in the southern region of Haskovo.

This week Saudi Arabia announced a temporary ban on imports of live birds, hatching eggs and chicks from the region of Dobrich due to highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; editing by Jason Neely