Bulgaria - Anthrax outbreak leaves 1 dead, 20 others quarantined

[Gert van der Hoek]

Anthrax outbreak in Bulgaria leaves one dead

18 July 2015 21:29 (Last updated 18 July 2015 21:32)
20 others quarantined after infected meat sold to illegal factory


SOFIA, Bulgaria

Health officials in Bulgaria on Saturday launched a large-scale disinfection operation after a man died from anthrax after handling infected beef, local media reported.

The man, identified by the Focus Information Agency as a 53-year-old from the Black Sea’s Varna region, is said to have passed meat from the cow to an illegal meat processing factory before dumping the remains at a landfill site.

The infected meat was reportedly sold around Provadia, Karnobat and Varna and the carcass was dumped in Mlada Gvardia, where disinfection was underway, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Health authorities in Varna have put 20 people in quarantine. Sheep and cattle in Mlada Gvardia are also under quarantine.

Anthrax is an infectious disease that can enter the body through skin contact, respiration or ingestion.

[Gert van der Hoek]

RHI: meat of dead from anthrax cow was sold and processed sausages in a workshop in Varna

To inspectors owner of the processing plant has denied receiving any meat is cooked local produce from it

Posted at 16:19 18:07:15

Meat of dead cow from anthrax in the village Young Guard, Vetrino, sold and processed sausages in a workshop in Varna - writes in the report of the Regional Health Inspectorate.

By RHI specify that the animal was slaughtered on July 7 after he fell ill.The owner, who later died in a hospital in Varna, cutting the meat along with three other people.The meat is sold to a resident of the village Bozveliysko where it was cut into warehouse three people, two of which are of Devnya.

According to participants in cutting the meat was transferred to Varna and a workshop in Asparuhovo which is processed into sausages that men divided among themselves.RHI to inspectors from the owner of the processing plant has denied receiving any meat and is cooked sausages.

Today is formed team that will take material for microbiological examination of all who had contact with infected animal parts.Taken additional precautions such as people assigned antibiotic prophylaxis.

Currently banned for the removal of grazing herds of the village Young Guard to immunize animals against anthrax Monday.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Anthrax vaccination of livestock is mandatory in Bulgaria. However, there is no money to do so. Some vaccine is kept in stock to use in case of outbreaks.


Samples of having contact with anthrax-contaminated meat were negative

20 July 2015

Samples of 22 of the 26 contact with infected meat with anthrax were negative, announced Darik chief of the Regional Health Inspectorate in Varna Dr. Dochka Mihailova. Days before the disease took the life of 53-year-old farmer from the village of Rumen Stoyanov Young Guard because the infected cow.

Down people who had contact with infected meat. Samples were taken from the 22 that gave a negative result. One sample is worked. It is expected today to do research and others, including those related to the second case of a dead animal. All contact continue to take antibiotics, said Dr. Mihailova.

The cause of anthrax in the nearby village Young Guard are heavy rains last month, said the executive director of the Bulgarian Agency for Food Safety Damyan Iliev. Rainfall is taken away topsoil and appeared disease spores that can survive in the ground for decades. In the neighboring village Nevsha many years ago there was an outbreak of anthrax.

"There is still a danger to appear cases of infected animals, which does not mean that the epidemic is created. This is quite normal situation because the outbreak is the pasture. It is now dry and animals with grass and dirt is likely to take, "said Iliev, who visited the village.

All 600 animals in the Young Guard will be vaccinated today, but until develop immunity will need week. During this period they will not leave the stables, as farmers will be provided with water and food. During the quarantine prohibits the slaughter of animals and sale of products and the collected milk will be discharged.

"The owner of the sick animal is obliged to inform the veterinarian with whom he has a contract. The doctor assesses the situation and inform the public service, then we take measures suspected something dangerous, "added Iliev. He conceded that there are flaws in the procedure and is not yet clear what is reported deceased anthrax Rumen Stoyanov veterinarian in the village.

Not yet know the cause of death of the cow, which died on Sunday. Her owner was a neighbor of Stoyanov. The animal will be sampled before being buried in a deep pit. Carcasses and location will be disinfected with caustic soda.