Anthrax outbreak in Stefanovo, Bulgaria infects three people and 205 cattle

anthrax outbreak livestock infection Stefanovo Lovech region Bacillus anthracis

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency has confirmed a primary anthrax outbreak in the village of Stefanovo, located in the Lovech region. The infection was identified at a livestock farm housing 205 cattle.

Three individuals, a married couple and a friend, have tested positive for the disease and are receiving treatment at the University Hospital ‘Dr. Georgi Stranski’ in Pleven. The infected individuals developed the cutaneous form of anthrax. Authorities have identified 21 contact persons, including family members, local officials, and police officers, all of whom are being monitored and provided with antibiotic prophylaxis.

The outbreak is linked to direct contact with an infected animal that was slaughtered by the farm owner for personal consumption after noticing signs of illness. The farm has been placed under quarantine, and movement of animals in the area is prohibited. Disinfection measures have been implemented at the farm, the slaughter site, and the pastures.

Mass vaccination of cattle and sheep in the affected area has commenced to prevent further spread. Authorities have emphasized that there is no danger to the general population as the disease is not transmitted from person to person, and the meat from the infected animal did not enter the commercial market.

Entities

Bulgarian Food Safety Agency · Ceca Dojčinova · Lovech · Lovech Province · Plamen Hristov · Pleven · Pleven University Hospital · Stefanovo · University Hospital ‘Dr. Georgi Stranski’

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] Three individuals, a married couple and a friend, tested positive for anthrax after consuming contaminated meat. opserver.mk · press24.mk · viaranews.com · n1info.ba · www.oslobodjenje.ba · +1 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Vaccination of hundreds of cattle and sheep has begun in the affected area. press24.mk · www.moreto.net · racin.mk · fakti.bg
[● 4 SOURCES] The infected individuals are receiving treatment at the University Hospital ‘Dr. Georgi Stranski’ in Pleven. viaranews.com · n1info.ba · www.moreto.net · racin.mk
[● 9 SOURCES] The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency confirmed a primary outbreak of anthrax in the village of Stefanovo, Lovech region. opserver.mk · press24.mk · viaranews.com · n1info.ba · www.espreso.co.rs · +4 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The outbreak was identified at a livestock farm containing 205 cattle. opserver.mk · press24.mk · viaranews.com · www.espreso.co.rs · www.moreto.net · +2 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Authorities have placed the farm under quarantine and implemented disinfection measures for the site and pastures. opserver.mk · press24.mk · viaranews.com · www.espreso.co.rs · www.moreto.net · +5 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The infected individuals developed the cutaneous form of the disease. trafficnews.bg
[● 5 SOURCES] Twenty-one contact persons have been identified in the Lovech region following contact with an anthrax-infected cow. trafficnews.bg · www.moreto.net · fakti.bg