Greece battles major sheep and goat plague in 11 regions

New cases of sheep and goat plague are expected in Greece, with 35 outbreaks already reported across 11 of the country's 13 regions, according to Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras. Movement and slaughter bans will remain in effect next week to curb the spread.

In a press conference, Tsiaras indicated potential impacts on Greek exports, particularly feta cheese, depending on the duration and severity of the outbreak. He emphasized the importance of determining the total livestock loss to establish appropriate support measures for affected farmers.

Tsiaras has requested the issue be addressed at the next EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting to discuss collective protection measures and additional economic solutions. An expert committee will also be formed to analyze the epidemiological study and identify any failures or illegal actions that led to the outbreak, with findings to be sent to the Larissa prosecutor for further investigation.

Two more positive cases were confirmed in Crete, specifically at a facility in Heraklion. Tracing has revealed that the infected animals originated from Romania, with further spread caused by breeding animals imported from Central Europe. These breeding animals were subsequently distributed to farms across various Greek regions, leading to widespread infection.

Breeding animals, particularly those of the Lacaune breed from France, are highly valued for their genetic material, costing between €2,000 and €5,000 each. Conversely, animals imported for fattening from Romania are much cheaper, about €300 each.

The Ministry of Agriculture highlighted that many farms, despite investing heavily in quality genetic material, saw their livestock infected and culled due to proximity to infected animals. This resulted in significant financial losses for farmers. Dimitris Moschos, Vice President of the Greek Farmers' Association, criticized the lack of government measures to prevent such incidents, advocating for better separation of breeding and meat-producing animals.

Tsiaras suggested this crisis might prompt a reevaluation of Greece's livestock management model, potentially leading to comprehensive reforms. He also acknowledged concerns about future feta production due to the outbreak's impact on the livestock population in key regions like Elassona.

Key Statistics:
- 11 of Greece's 13 regions have received animals exposed to the virus.
- 13,000 sheep and goats have been preventively culled in Greece out of a total population of 15 million.
- 213,000 animals have been culled in Romania from a total population of 12 million.