Livestock checks stepped up ahead of Easter amid pox epidemic

Ahead of the yearly slaughter of thousands of lambs for traditional Easter Sunday meals, authorities are stepping up policing of measures to incorporate a highly contagious livestock illness that’s decimated herds successful overmuch of the country, officials said Wednesday.

The Rural Development Ministry said special restrictions use to areas affected by the sheep and goat pox epidemic that’s forced the culling of astir fractional a cardinal animals since August 2024.

“Targeted and concerted checks are being intensified astatine cardinal points of the roadworthy network, making use of accusation and successful adjacent practice with section veterinary services, the Hellenic Police and Coast Guard,” a ministry statement said. “Our main precedence is to forestall immoderate further spread of the cases.”

Since February 1, 56 radical person been arrested for breaches of regulations.

The ministry said that immoderate question of livestock successful afflicted areas is banned, including flocks being taken outdoors to graze, while animals tin lone beryllium taken for slaughter pursuing special dispensation aft being tested for the illness – which does not impact humans.

The authorities has ruled retired vaccinations to code the occupation – which is threatening Greece’s important feta food exports – arguing that there are nary European Union-approved vaccines available. Officials accidental allowing vaccination would besides pb to the illness being recorded arsenic endemic to Greece, triggering restrictions connected dairy exports.

Farmers person appealed for vaccinations to beryllium allowed, citing recommendations from the EU.

The ministry said a total 2,147 cases person been recorded so acold since August 2024, with the illness precocious spreading to Preveza and Evritania successful the west and the Ionian Sea land of Ithaca.

At the aforesaid time, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth – different highly contagious livestock illness that does not impact humans – connected Lesvos has added to livestock breeders’ tribulations.

The ministry said a total 25 cases person been confirmed since mid-March, when Greece’s archetypal outbreak of the illness successful a quarter-century was recorded successful bluish Lesvos.