Greece reports 22 cases of cattle plague
Greece has confirmed 22 cases of rinderpest, with 20 cases detected in Thessaly, central Greece, one in Corinth, Peloponnese and one in Attica.
To date, 10,768 animals have been slaughtered, and another 2,000 are expected to be culled soon.
The disease, known by its French acronym PPR (Peste des petits ruminants) was first discovered in France’s African colonies in 1942 and its virus does not infect humans.
Georgios Stratakos, Secretary General of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, said the situation is under scientific investigation. Veterinarians are working to trace the movement of affected animals and provide results.
Stratakos noted that sampling in Attica and Corinth followed specific animal movement patterns and the tracking of infected units. European protocols require the culling of all animals in affected units, followed by disinfection and quarantine.
In response to the outbreak, Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras has imposed a nationwide ban on the movement of goats and sheep to curb the spread of the disease and eradicate the plague.
