Capacities and resources for management of avian influenza outbreaks in Bulgaria

Abstract

The study investigated the necessity of improvement of the technical, financial and human resources in the veterinary sector, the need for strengthening the control on the prevention and eradication measures on avian influenza and the update in the legislation. A sociological survey was carried out through an anonymous written questionnaire with open and closed questions. More than one-third (36.67%) of the respondents in the study assessed the activities of the competent authorities in Bulgaria for eradication of the avian flu outbreaks as “Very good”. For 43.33% one of the main reasons for spreading the disease appeared to be the misinformation and non-declaration of the infection by the farmers, the illegal import and low biosecurity level. For more effective management of the future avian flu outbreaks, more than half of the respondents (56.67%) recommended improvement of the control measures. Of them, 20% proposed stricter control on the eradication at the farms; another 13.33% of the respondents stated the necessity of legislative amendments regarding the zoonotic character of the disease.