Greece Bans Movement of Sheep and Goats to Contain “Goat Plague”

ATHENS, July 29 (Reuters) – Greece has implemented a ban on moving sheep and goats from their farms in an effort to contain a viral infection known as “goat plague” after new cases were detected over the weekend. The agriculture ministry announced the decision on Monday, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

The virus, also known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), does not affect humans but is highly contagious among goats and sheep, with a mortality rate of up to 70% for those infected. Georgios Stratakos, a senior agriculture ministry official, reported that approximately 8,000 animals have been culled and more than 200,000 tested, primarily in the central Thessaly region where the outbreak was first detected on July 11.

“Tightening the security measures across the country is deemed necessary for preventive reasons and is aimed at limiting the spread and eradicating the disease,” the ministry stated. PPR was first described in Ivory Coast in 1942 and has since spread globally. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the disease results in losses of up to $2.1 billion worldwide each year.

The Greek government is taking all necessary steps to prevent further spread of the disease and protect the livestock industry.