SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria has confirmed a new case of African swine fever among backyard pigs in the village of Novachene near the town of Pleven in the north of the country, the national food safety agency said on Friday.

Bulgaria already reported two cases of African swine fever among backyard pigs in the same region on Thursday.

The agency said that all pigs in Novachene will be culled, starting on Saturday and a 3-kilometre quarantine zone will be established around the village.

African swine fever is a highly contagious disease that affects pigs and wild boar. It does not affect humans.