EU tackles sheep and goat plague

ATHENS — An outbreak of sheep and goat plague, reportedly originating in Romania, is raising alarms across southeastern Europe as authorities work to prevent its spread into Bulgaria and the Balkans. In response, Bulgarian officials have implemented stringent measures, including disinfecting vehicles and requiring negative PCR tests for all animals entering the country starting Monday. Despite the outbreak, Christos Tsopanos, acting president of the Association of Greek Livestock (SEK), reassured that there are currently no market shortages in Greece. The country boasts a robust population of 140 million goats and sheep, making it a leader in the EU. Although tens of thousands of animals have been culled, Tsopanos emphasized that this has not significantly impacted overall production levels. Greece is a major producer of Feta cheese, generating over 140,000 tons annually, with 65 percent of this output exported, contributing to a record €730 million in revenue for 2023. While the export of Feta remains secure, Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras warned that domestic price increases for popular cheeses could occur as a result of the outbreak. The disease, known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), can be fatal, killing up to 70 percent of infected animals. First detected in the EU in 2018, PPR previously led to the destruction of livestock and lockdowns in affected areas. The EU has deployed health inspectors to Greece and Romania to monitor the situation and prevent further outbreaks.