Haskovo, Southern Bulgaria, December 31 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza type A in birds in the Haskovo region. The virus was found in two breeding facilities for laying hens in the village of Krivo Pole, Haskovo municipality, the BFSA press office said on Friday.   

An order has been issued to take measures to control the outbreak. The plan is to humanely kill the sick and contact birds in the sites and dispose of the corpses under official supervision, and in a way that prevents the spread of the disease, the agency specified.     

A three-kilometre protection zone was set up around the affected livestock site, which includes three villages from Haskovo municipality, and a 10-kilometre surveillance zone covering nine villages from Haskovo municipality, two villages from Harmanli municipality and eight villages from Stambolovo municipality.    

The authorities are carrying out epizootic research and tracking the movements of poultry and other birds, eggs, products and animal by-products derived from them, fodder for birds, and vehicles related to the technological process in the sites, the announcement adds.    

RY/MT