Four new cases of African Swine Fever in wild pigs confirmed in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency confirmed four new cases of African Swine Fever in the village of Bistrentsi in the Rousse district; Devin municipality in Smolyan district; near the village of Zherava in Sofia district; and near the village of Vurbino in Silistra district, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Atanas Dobrev, told BNT on August 14.

This makes a total of 32 cases of ASF in wild pigs in Bulgaria, he added.

He explained that in cases when African Swine Fever is confirmed, a ban was issued within a 200km zone on entering forests to hunt, cut timber and pick mushrooms in order to prevent people spreading the disease.

The Food Safety Agency reiterated its call to the public to be responsible in the face of the animal health situation and to implement prevention and biosecurity meaures.

Dobrev said that the Agriculture Ministry is supportive of a longer hunting season for wild pigs, opening two weeks earlier in the second week of January and continuing until mid-March. This is the most effective method and way to reduce the population of wild pigs, he added.

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