Greece has enacted a 10-day ban on the transportation and reproduction of sheep and goats nationwide after reporting over 100 cases of smallpox infections, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. These precautionary measures aim to contain the spread of the highly contagious virus, which does not pose a threat to human health.
So far, 104 cases of the disease have been identified, predominantly in the northern region of Evros. In response to the outbreak, approximately 17,500 animals have been culled. The disease has also been detected in animals as far south as the prefectures of Magnissia and Corinthia. Authorities have alerted livestock breeders, dairy producers, slaughterhouses, and feed suppliers in these areas about the smallpox outbreak. Veterinary teams are conducting inspections within a protection zone of 3 kilometers and a surveillance zone of 10 kilometers around the affected areas.
“Starting today, we announce a complete ban on the movement of sheep and goats for breeding, fattening, grazing, and slaughter throughout Greek territory for 10 days,” Agriculture Minister Costas Tsiaras stated. He emphasized that while smallpox is highly contagious among animals, it does not affect public health. Tsiaras noted that this ban is essential to limit the spread of the disease and manage the situation effectively, referencing previous successes in controlling outbreaks such as the plague of small ruminants.
Sheep pox is a highly contagious infectious disease that can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or through contaminated food, tools, and vehicles. Greece faced similar restrictions in June to curb a viral infection known as “goat plague.”
In light of the outbreak, officials have sought to reassure the public that the production of feta cheese—the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet—will not be adversely affected. Christos Tsopanos, a prominent figure at the Association of Greek Livestock (SEK), stated, “The outbreak won’t endanger feta exports.” Greece boasts around 14 million goats and sheep, the highest number among EU member states.
According to Eurostat, as of 2022, the EU has about 11 million goats total, with Greece representing roughly 25 percent of the bloc’s goat population. Romania and Greece have the second and third largest sheep herds in the EU, following Spain.
This outbreak marks only the second occurrence of its kind in the EU, the first being in Bulgaria in 2018. Similar outbreaks have also been reported in Turkey and Georgia. The Greek agriculture ministry has launched an investigation to determine the outbreak’s source, including the possibility of “suspicious imports” from abroad.
