If the government’s 10-day action plan to contain the outbreak of sheep and goat pox fails, Greece will impose a nationwide ban on the movement and transport of animals—effectively freezing trade, officials said.
Already, 2% of the country’s flocks have been culled, a development that threatens to drive meat prices higher and severely impact feta exports.
According to Agriculture Ministry data, the outbreak has hit hardest during the summer months, with July and August recording the highest case numbers. The disease, described as highly contagious, has spread rapidly despite containment measures.
The 10-day plan announced Monday urges farmers to tighten biosecurity, veterinarians to step up on-site inspections, and local authorities to establish disinfection stations to monitor livestock movement. The measures aim to halt transmission before stricter nationwide restrictions are triggered.
Sheep and goat pox affects only these animals and poses no risk to public health, as it does not spread to humans.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Christos Kellas warned that if the virus continues to spread, trade in livestock and related products will grind to a halt: “Farmers will not be able to deliver milk, nor meat. Slaughterhouses across the country will shut down,” he said.
The economic implications are significant. With Greece being the world’s largest exporter of feta, continued disruption could damage one of the country’s most valuable agricultural exports while straining rural communities already under pressure.
More than 260,000 sheep and goats have been slaughtered, and around 1,100 farms forced to shut down, after authorities detected over 2,400 cases in the past year.
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