Rinderpest among Greek sheep spreads

In this Sept. 7, 2019, photo, goats and sheep graze freely near the beach in Kipos village, on Samothraki island, northeastern Greece. Goat herding is a way of life on Samothraki, a hard-to-reach Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea, but experts and locals are working together to control the animal population that has left its mountain barren and islanders under the threat of mudslides. (AP Photo/Iliana Mier)

The outbreak of PPR rinderpest in goats in Greece also has serious consequences for the livestock sector in Europe. Since the first cases were discovered in Greece, the disease has spread rapidly. 

In Greece, 22 cases have been confirmed so far. The outbreak has led to strict measures by the Greek authorities to prevent further spread. A nationwide transport ban has been imposed, which is a major blow to the trade in these animals. The government has also imposed quarantine measures for affected animals and is conducting large-scale vaccination campaigns.

The situation in Greece also has implications for neighbouring countries. In Romania, 37 active outbreaks of PPR have already been reported, mainly in the Caraș-Severin region, where 28 villages have been quarantined. Romanian authorities have taken similar measures as in Greece, including a ban on the movement of sheep and goats and intensive monitoring of the situation.

In Poland and Hungary, there is also great concern. The Polish and Hungarian authorities are closely monitoring the situation in Greece and Romania and are preparing contingency plans to quickly contain a possible outbreak. The Polish livestock sector has already been put on high alert, and steps have been taken to restrict the import of sheep and goats from affected areas.

The outbreak in southeastern Europe also poses a threat to other European countries. In Estonia, authorities have warned of the risk of PPR spreading to the Baltic country. The Estonian government has advised farmers to implement strict biosecurity measures and to closely monitor the health of their herds.

The economic impact of the PPR outbreak is significant. In Greece, farmers have already reported major losses due to the death of sick animals and the imposed transport ban. The situation in Romania is worsening the economic pressure on the livestock sector there. 

The European Union is working closely with affected countries to combat the spread of PPR. Funds are being made available for emergency aid and a coordinating approach has been developed for monitoring, vaccination and education.