Bulgaria detects first bird flu case in poultry

Bulgarian authorities have confirmed the detection of the country's first bird flu case in poultry in a barnyard in the village of Slantchogled, south of the country.

The Sofia laboratory detected the virus on the 20 July. It is not yet known if the virus is the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain. Definite results are due within days. Bulgarian officials are to send a sample to the European Union's laboratory in Weybridge, Britain.

According to Nihat Kabil, Bulgaria's agriculture minister, the area has no big poultry producers; however a destruction order has been placed on all poultry and poultry products in the region.

It is expected that the European Commission will decide on Monday whether or not to impose a ban on all live poultry and poultry products from the region.

Four cases of H5N1 was detected in swans in northern Bulgaria in February.

Editor WorldPoultry