Greece has imposed strict containment measures to forestall a foot-and-mouth illness (FMD) outbreak on the island of Lesvos from spreading to the mainland and throughout Europe.
The primary case of foot-and-mouth illness on the japanese Aegean island was reported on 15 March, with a lockdown imposed instantly afterwards.
The illness is extremely contagious for cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, however shouldn’t be harmful to people. It reappeared within the EU in Germany in 2025 for the primary time since 2011. Though eradicated in Germany within the April of the identical yr, additional outbreaks have been reported within the bloc, most not too long ago in Greece and Cyprus.
In Lesvos, FMD has up to now led to the culling of 8,000 sheep and goats. Fotis Giannakis, from the native slaughterhouse trade, advised Euractiv that the state of affairs is “dramatic” and that losses in meat and milk gross sales – a sector accounting for 80% of the island’s economic system – exceed €7 million.
The precedence now could be to forestall additional unfold.
“The illness should not go away the island. If it reaches mainland Greece, it will be a catastrophic state of affairs for livestock farming,” sources from Greek ministry of agriculture advised Euractiv.
Newly appointed Agriculture Minister Margaritis Schinas visited Brussels this week to debate the state of affairs in Lesvos with the EU Commissioner for Well being and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi.
A European Fee spokesperson stated that strict biosecurity measures and motion restrictions are important to regulate the unfold of FMD. “That is the one efficient means of bringing the state of affairs beneath management,” the EU official famous.
Requested in regards to the potential want for vaccination, the official stated the EU antigen financial institution can present EU-financed vaccines matched to the virus pressure present in Greece very quickly, if Athens decides to request them.
Pox in remission
Foot-and-mouth illness comes on prime of an already fragile animal well being state of affairs following final yr’s outbreak of sheep and goat pox. The present epidemiological state of affairs has improved considerably because of the measures taken.
“There’s intensive cooperation with the police, who’ve arrested 100 individuals for breaches of biosecurity measures,” a second ministry supply stated, including that since final June, all animal transfers for slaughter have required a PCR check.
Nevertheless, the federal government stays cautious, significantly forward of the interval within the month following Greek Orthodox Easter, when meat consumption and slaughter actions usually attain their peak.
(adm, aw)
