The Bulgarian authorities are clearly concerned and appear to be attempting to take steps to prevent the disease spreading, judging by local press reports, e.g. HERE and HERE.

I would think that going to the coastal resorts,especially Sunny Beach or Golden Sands, would be extremely safe. Being very "touristy" means you are well away from close contact with birds.
The people on this site are very knowledgable and any causes for concern will soon be relayed to us.

The Toonman

Hi,
We are due to fly out to Varna at the beginning of May and like you are concerned by the potential consequences of Avian flu, however we fully intend to travel unless the Foreign Office advise otherwise.
I guess it is a case of wait and see
Have been following the link which Briar highlighted on the Turkish board, however it all seems to be chasing round in circles and becoming rather personal! So at the moment am keeping an open mind and counting the days till I'm back there .................................108 days!!!!
Nazdrave
Scruffyish

From what I've read/heard so far about bird flu in Bulgaria, and also Turkey, the chances of holiday-makers contracting the disease are extremely small (you have to be in direct contact with infected poultry). I'm travelling around Eastern Europe myself soon and the bird flu situation hasn't put me off. However, I have invested in a small protection kit (mask etc) in case things do get more serious while I'm away. It's not very expensive and won't take up too much room in my rucksack. For more info check out http://www.flufightersonline.com The website also contains lots of useful information on bird flu, with links to bodies, such as the World Health Organisation
Anyway, bird flu or not, I'm going to have a great time on my travels. Hope you all enjoy your holidays too!

Think I heard somewhere yesterday that they've found a number of dead swans in Bulgaria - bird flue.

Beginning to feel like we may not get to go to Bulgaria this summer!

You can see a map of countries affected by avian flu HERE.

Hi ammg,

Beginning to feel like we may not get to go to Bulgaria this summer!

I am going to Bulgaria on Friday and will be going again in July for three weeks - have you actually read any official information about Avian Flu, e.g. World Health Organisation or US Centers for Disease Control?

Given the current information, unless you plan to spend your holiday working on a poultry farm or similar, any risk appears to be minimal - unless the virus mutates to improve its transmissability between human beings.

I agree with Baldur, who has beaten me to it (again!) and with better websites than the one I was going to offer -

FCO

It won't put us off going to Bulgaria this year, nor anywhere else for that matter.

Peter

I`m now of the opinion that something has to be really drastic to stop me from going on holiday. The powers that be have tried everything over the years. I was in the costa d sol the year all the bombs were going off ( I still went). I was in Turkey when there was all that talk about all hell breaking loose concerning Turkey going in at the north of Iraq ( I still went).
I was in Zante when temps got that high all the woods and bush was igniting (I still went).
It`s going to take something more than bird flu to stop me going.

Are people still happy to be going to Bulgaria now that bird flu has been detected? I got an email at work today also about Newcastle Disease now also in Bulgaria. I've booked for June but am almost hoping for a decision by Foreign Affairs.

If you plan to stay on a chicken farm in the back of beyond then worry. If you are staying in one of the resorts the only birds you are likely to come across will be well-cooked and on your plate, don't worry.

Patka

Hi ammg,

Are people still happy to be going to Bulgaria now that bird flu has been detected? I got an email at work today also about Newcastle Disease now also in Bulgaria. I've booked for June but am almost hoping for a decision by Foreign Affairs.

I was in Bulgaria two weeks ago and have lived to tell the tale! I fully intend to go again in July - the way that the avian flu virus is spreading, it looks quite likely to reach the UK by June, as it is already in France, and Newcastle Disease was also confirmed among pheasants in Surrey in July 2005 - so are you happy to stay in the UK?

Baldur

I was in France last weekend and I visit Surrey to my daughter at least once a month and I am going to Bulgaria both June and Sept, what do we all do when it reaches England Emigrate. To where. Tonyt