Viruses

The more radical and adequate measures are taken against the spread of African swine fever, the shorter the period to combat this infection will be. This was stated by Prof. Hristo Naidenski, Director of the Institute of Microbiology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

African swine fever is also likely to occur in Northern Macedonia, local veterinarians warn. Authorities in the country are taking all measures to prevent infection.

Farm inspections will begin in the coming weeks, aiming to keep farmers aware of the signs of the disease.

A group of Turkish scientists have identified four rare viruses in Turkey that cause hemorrhagic fever and lead to death due to kidney failure, Daily Sabah reported.

Culling the pigs infected with African swine fever is the only way to contain the situation in Bulgaria, said Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis.

Greece has introduced a high level of border control with Bulgaria to prevent the spread of African swine fever.

The Agrarian Ministry, as well as all food control services, are paying close attention to the spread of African swine fever in Bulgaria and Romania.

The virus is not dangerous for the people, Dr. Alexandra Miteva is categorical, writes NOVA TV. 

Representatives of the emergency veterinary team of the European Commission will be in Bulgaria from tomorrow to 25 July to assess the situation with the distribution of African swine fever in domestic and wild pigs in Bulgaria, announced the Bulgarian National Television by the European Commission.

Bulgarian Food Safety Agency on Saturday confirmed the first outbreak of African swine fever in an industrial farm in the country.

A total of about 17,000 pigs are fattened in the farm, which is located in the village of Nikolovo near Danube River in Ruse Region, the agency said in a statement.

Experiments with monkeys have given encouraging results, writes NOVA TV. 

A new HIV vaccine launches tests on people, hoping to find a cure for the disease, write Daily Old and Daily News.

Since nearly 40 years ago the AIDS epidemic has started, only four vaccines have reached the stage of being tested on humans. None of them proved effective.

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has registered a new outbreak of avian influenza (H5) in a duck farm in the village of Yoglav, Lovech region. The case was confirmed yesterday by the National Reference Laboratory. BFSA has ordered humane killing and disinfection and has set up protection and observation areas around the village.