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Greece has taken urgent action to curb an outbreak of the small-ruminants plague (Peste des Petits Ruminants, PPR), a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting goats and sheep. The Greek Agricultural Development and Food Minister Kostas Tsiaras announced on Tuesday that approximately 9,000 animals have been culled in an effort to contain the spread of the disease. Over the past week, inspections were conducted on more than 230,000 goats and sheep.
“We are taking all necessary measures to address the issue,” Tsiaras told Greek broadcaster ERT, emphasizing that there is no risk to public health.
As part of the containment efforts, the agriculture ministry has imposed a nationwide ban on the transport of goats and sheep. This preventive step aims to halt the spread of the disease while experts work to trace its origin.
The first cases of PPR were identified last week in Thessaly, a region in central Greece. In response, quarantine measures were swiftly implemented. Subsequently, a few cases were reported near Athens and on the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece. Some of the infected animals were reported to have been imported from Romania.
In light of these findings, Greek authorities have temporarily banned imports of goats and sheep from Romania until Friday. Tsiaras assured that the state will support affected breeders, with the ministry providing compensation of 150 euros ($162.5) for each animal culled. However, this amount has been deemed insufficient by breeders like Nikos Guvas, who pointed out the financial impact of the losses.
Despite official assurances that PPR poses no threat to human health, some consumers remain cautious. Antonis Blamis, a butcher in Athens, reported that a few customers were hesitant to purchase meat products this week.
As Greece grapples with this outbreak, the swift actions and preventive measures taken by authorities are crucial to preventing further spread and ensuring the safety of both the livestock industry and the public.
