"Following a report filed by residents of the village of Zhelyo Voyvoda, veterinarians from the Regional Directorate for Food Safety in Sliven and bodies of the Ministry of Interior identified animals of unknown origin. They were being hidden by the owners, as they originate from the Sliven village of Zhelyo Voyvoda with a declared primary outbreak of small ruminant pox. When visiting the herd, visible signs of small ruminant pox were found in the sheep and blood samples were taken, which were positive. For this reason, a decision was made to euthanize the animals". This was stated from the parliamentary rostrum by the acting Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov in connection with a question asked "why euthanize animals without taking a sample.
"Farmers can appeal and we will cooperate," he explained.