Bulgaria’s President calls a meeting over African Swine Fever

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev on July 31 called a meeting with representatives of the relevant institutions over the outbreaks of African Swine Fever in the country.

According to the head of state, the virus is only part of the general crisis situation in the country and it includes the hacker attack in the National Revenue Agency (NRA), the fighter aircrafts deal and the protests for the election of a new chief prosecutor. At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said that half of the state agenciesare engaged in the fight to contain the spread of African swine fever, but in order to have results, the support of people and mayors is very important.

At the meeting, Rumen Radev stated that the state should show its responsibility in the crisis with the African Swine Fever.

The President said that it not only affects the industry, the pig-farming industry, but it affects all Bulgarians, especially the thousands of Bulgarians who rely on livestock for livelihood.

According to Tomislav Donchev, the problem comes from the fact that some farmers refuse to follow the orders of the veterinarians. They were encouraged by people who walked around and said "there is no ASF." Donchev told of comical cases of hiding pigs in bedrooms or carrying them at night along forest paths and roads.

Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister: We have problems with mayors in some places, they do not cooperate enough, and quite controversial messages are often sent to people. The worst thing will be if the African swine fever epidemic is combined with an epidemic of political stupidity.

Agriculture Minister Desislava Taneva said that the deadlines given to people in the 20-kilometre sanitary zones for destroying domestic pigs are short, but this is the right path.

Desislava Taneva, Minister of Agriculture: We need to rush to be ahead of the virus. Yes, such are the deadlines, we are trying to prevent and stop the spread of the infection.

Minister Taneva did not rule out the possibility for applying more severe measures in the future which includes destroying all domestic pigs in back-yard farms, no matter how far they are located from the large industrial farms.

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