Primary anthrax outbreak confirmed at farm in Stefanovo, Bulgaria

Bulgarian authorities confirmed a primary anthrax outbreak at a livestock farm in the village of Stefanovo, in Lovech district, after laboratory tests returned positive on 26 August 2026.

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) reported that the outbreak involves a farm keeping 205 cattle. The Regional Directorate for Food Safety – Lovech placed the farm under quarantine and notified the Regional Health Inspectorate, which has opened an investigation.

Initial alert and on-site findings

Inspectors began work after health services were alerted on 24 August about patients admitted to a medical facility with a suspected disease. The cases involved a married couple who are cattle breeders and owners of two registered farms in Stefanovo — one holding cattle and the other sheep. According to the account of events, the farm owner noticed signs of illness in one animal, slaughtered and butchered it, and the meat was stored in a freezer; samples from that meat were later sent for laboratory testing.

Once suspicion arose, the Regional Directorate for Food Safety teams in Lovech quarantined the premises and carried out disinfection of the farmstead, the slaughtering area and the pastures used by the animals. Meat remaining in the freezer has been banned from use.

Clinical examinations and temperature checks of cattle and sheep at both locations found no deviations in body temperature and animals appeared to be in generally good condition, the authorities said.

Following the laboratory confirmation, the Executive Director of the Regional Directorate for Food Safety issued an order to organize vaccination of susceptible animals and to conduct an inventory of registered farms in Stefanovo. Movement of animals to pastures and watering places has been prohibited until the end of the quarantine period after vaccination. RDFS teams are carrying out daily monitoring of animals in the affected area to limit further spread.

Photo: press material from the event