Sheep

In less than five months, Greece’s livestock industry has been hit hard by two severe blows: first, the spread of plague and then the

In an interview with Action 24, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras stated that the 10-day ban on the movement of sheep and goats is aimed at preventing further spread of the disease. He clarified that there is no public health risk, as the disease only affects sheep, and emphasized that the main goal is to preserve the country’s livestock.

The livestock industry in the country has been hit with a second blow. Following the outbreak of plague among sheep and goats, farmers are now facing sheep and goat pox, a disease even harder to eradicate.

In response to new reported cases of the contagious sheep pox disease this week, authorities have imposed a 10-day nationwide ban on livestock movement.

A fresh outbreak with two confirmed cases has been reported at a livestock unit in Magnesia in Central Greece and in Stymfalia, in Corinthia regional unit.

Bulgaria has emerged as a frontrunner in the EU regarding agricultural support for the small ruminant sector. This acknowledgment came from the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Association, whose members attended a significant European livestock exhibition in France earlier this month.

Greece has reported 10 outbreaks of the BTV3 bluetongue virus in sheep and goats on farms in the northeastern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Monday, citing Greek authorities.

Fresh cases of goat plague, also known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), have been detected in the Vartholomio area of Ilia, southern Greece, according to reports on Wednesday.

This marks the second instance of the disease being identified in the area, following an earlier outbreak in a nearby livestock unit in early August.

Teams carry out inspections on a farm in the region of Thessaly, central Greece. The General Directorate of Veterinary Medicine at the Ministry of Rural Development and Food has announced a partial revision of the restrictive measures to prevent the spread of sheep plague, based on epidemiological data.

The competent veterinary services have completed the second phase of the clinical examination and sampling of sheep and goat holdings located in the five protection and surveillance zones for goat and sheep disease in Western Greece.

Sheep pox confirmed in four farming units in the border region of Evros, the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food said on Wednesday.

The infected animals, about 1,000, will be culled while authorities will intensify inspections and testing.