Awidespread veterinarian operation to fight the outbreak of small-ruminants plague (Peste des petits ruminants, PPR), which broke out last month, is currently unfolding in the Region of Western Greece, it was announced on Wednesday.
The focus on the region is based on epidemiological inspections and laboratory results for PPR, with the capital of Patras and the city of Agrinio serving as operational centers for veterinarians and other technicians continuously arriving from all of Greece. Specialists from the local regional units of Etoloakarnania and Ilia, on mainland Greece and the Peloponnese respectively, are operating in the field already.
The unfolding operation, initiated by Minister of Rural Development and Food of Greece Kostas Tsiaras, is coordinated by Ministry Secretary General Giorgos Stratakos and is expected to be larger than a similar one in Thessaly, central Greece.
In a statement, the ministry said that the purpose is to check immediately 2,504 farms and 436,500 goats and sheep within the protection and supervision zones, as set along European rules. Up to date, a total of 18,335 animals have already been slaughtered in all of Greece or are slated to be killed.
Of the 5 main loci of infection in the Region of Western Greece, 3 are in the Regional Unit of Etoloakarnania, and 2 in the Regional Unit of Ilia. All five of these loci of infection are linked to contaminated animal feed from the Regional Unit of Larissa, in central Greece. The aim is to complete the clinical inspection of all animals in the supervision zones the soonest possible, to ensure PPR has not spread further, the ministry said.
Inspections are also carried out on milk and to ensure all biosecurity measures are observed in cheese factories in the region, as well as during animal transport.