Greece Weighs Lockdown Measures Amid Rising Sheep Pox Cases

Sheep farmers successful Greece are sounding the alarm arsenic sheep pox continues to spread rapidly, with veterinary authorities weighing the anticipation of “lockdown” measures to incorporate the outbreak.

Officials astatine the Ministry of Rural Development and Food are assessing developments successful the coming days earlier deciding connected further restrictions, which could see halting the question of animals and related products. Farmers warn that such a determination would deepen their fiscal struggles, with terrible consequences for section economies and the wider nutrient supply chain.

Farmers Face Devastating Losses

Sheep pox, while not a menace to quality health, has already led to wide culling and important losses successful nutrient and beverage production. Veterinary services estimation that much than 275,000 animals person been slaughtered so far, with farmers placing the fig person to 300,000—roughly 10% of the nationalist sheep and goat population.

The hardest-hit regions see Larissa, Achaia, Magnesia and Trikala, while Epirus, Crete and Western Macedonia stay mostly unaffected. In Thessaly, a cardinal livestock portion known for exports of dairy products such arsenic feta, much than 145,000 animals person already been culled aft successive outbreaks implicit the past two years.

Farmers’ associations are demanding an contiguous halt to culling and the rollout of vaccinations, which they reason is the lone sustainable solution. They person besides asked the ministry to clarify however vaccination mightiness impact the trade of dairy products.

Government Action Plan

Since September 22, a 10-day enactment program has been successful spot crossed Greece. Measures see intensified tract inspections by ministry veterinarians, disinfection checkpoints connected cardinal roads, and stricter biosecurity protocols for carnal transport vehicles, milk, and feed.

Veterinary teams stay connected alert for caller outbreaks and are prepared to bid further wide culls if deemed necessary.

Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras, aft gathering with EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, stressed the value of “science-based decisions, stronger monitoring, prevention, and accelerated effect to livestock diseases.” However, helium reiterated that vaccination is not presently considered an due solution, with the authorities focusing alternatively connected prevention and accumulation safeguards.

For galore farmers, however, the looming anticipation of a απαγορευτικό κυκλοφορίας represents much than economical strain—it threatens the survival of full agrarian communities built connected livestock production.

Source: tovima.com