2024-07-25 01:35:06
The Greek authorities are considering the possibility of introducing a state of emergency in the north-east of the country due to the fact that an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants (PPR, goat and sheep plague) was registered there. This disease has been detected in the republic for the first time in the history of observations, the Athens Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) reported, citing data from the region’s veterinary service, Day.Az reports citing TASS.
According to her, the outbreak was registered in several cities in the Thessaly region at once. According to a statement from the veterinary service received by the agency, the viral disease affects only ungulates and does not pose a threat to humans, but “requires urgent measures.” Mass infection of ruminants not only threatens to damage the economy and agriculture of the region, but also “may have consequences at the national level.”
According to ANA-MPA, Greek Minister of Rural Development and Food Konstantinos Tsiaras will hold an emergency meeting in the city of Larissa on July 19 to discuss the proposal of the Governor of Thessaly to introduce a state of emergency in the region. It is currently known that local authorities have already erected protective fences with a radius of 3 km to isolate infected animals, and have also begun monitoring the movement of livestock in 10-kilometer zones around settlements where outbreaks of PPR were previously detected.
PPR is a highly contagious animal disease that affects small domestic and wild ruminants. It is caused by a virus belonging to the genus Morbilliviru, family Paramixoviridae. It can infect up to 90% of the livestock, with up to 70% of sick animals dying. The PPR virus does not infect humans.
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