‘No easy decisions’ on sheep, goat pox spread

As sheep and goat pox continues to spread done Greek flocks, the Agricultural Development Ministry appears hesitant to take drastic measures similar a total lockdown, mindful of the devastating interaction it would person connected livestock farmers.

According to the ministry, 320,000 animals had been culled by Friday successful a bid to incorporate the latest outbreak of the highly transmissible disease.

“We saw a comparative diminution successful cases past week but we can’t talk astir a recession signifier until the trend stabilizes,” a veterinary work authoritative astatine the ministry noted.

New cases past week dropped to 75 from 103 the week before. However, cases were besides identified for the archetypal clip successful the portion of Pella, on with caller flare-ups successful Serres, Achaia, Magnesia, Imathia, Thessaloniki and Rodopi.

“There are nary casual decisions,” a ministry authoritative told Kathimerini connected information of anonymity. “Should we stop the question of animals, provender and milk? The consequences would beryllium significant, particularly for milk. On the different hand, collecting beverage from workplace to workplace successful the aforesaid truck tin beryllium a large source of spread when measures are not followed.”

In a related development, a Larissa authoritative ordered a preliminary enquiry into whether information protocols designed to incorporate the spread of the virus are being decently implemented successful Thessaly, successful cardinal Greece, and whether animals infected with the illness whitethorn person entered the agrifood supply chain.