Greece imposes bans to tackle goat plague
Greece has banned the transportation of sheep and goats across the country in the hopes of containing a highly contagious infection referred to as the goat plague. “The movement of sheep and goats for breeding, fattening and slaughter is banned throughout Greece,” the agriculture ministry said.
New infection cases, it said, had been detected in the central Larissa region and in Corinth in the south of Greece. The virus, also known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) can have a mortality rate of between 80 and 100% for infected animals. Thankfully, it does not affect humans. PPR was first discovered in 1942 in the Ivory Coast, going on to spread around the world.
The Greek agricultural ministry said on Monday, 29th July, that the ban had been introduced “with the aim of limiting the spread and eradication of the disease.” Livestock farmers, cheesemakers, slaughterhouse owners, and feed suppliers have all been informed about the restrictions, the ministry said.
At the weekend, officials from the ministry also held urgent meetings with local authorities in the affected areas where PPR cases were reported. An investigation was underway to determine the source of the outbreak. “Suspicious imports” from abroad have not been ruled out as one of the potential causes.
Greece is also liaising with the EU and veterinary services of other member states of the bloc. EU regulations state that an entire flock should be culled once a PPR case has been confirmed and the affected farm should then be disinfected. At least 7,000 animals have been culled since the disease first surfaced in Greece on, 11th July. The country has the largest number of goats in Europe. Goat and sheep milk is used to make feta cheese, a Greek trademark product.
