There is no public health risk from it plague of small ruminantsannounced the Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras, after a meeting in the Region of Thessaly, at the time of the outbreak of the disease in units in Domeniko Elassonas and Meteora Trikala.
Mr. Tsiaras clarified that the disease only affects goats and sheep and in any case it is not transmitted to other species of animals. In addition, between the managers of the veterinary services and the scientific staff of the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaly, it was clear that the consumption of milk and meat poses no risk to public health, as long as the rules were laid down by the Council. The EU respects.
The aim of the meeting was the best possible coordination and the immediate implementation of the measures planned by the EU, to eradicate the plague of small ruminants.
Deputy Ministers for Rural Development and Food, Christos Kellas, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Triantopoulos, Secretary General for Rural Development and Food, attended the meeting, which aimed to coordinate EU measures and in place to eradicate the disease. Giorgos Stratakos, regional governor Dimitris Kouretas, regional deputy governor Larissa Maria Galiou, regional deputy governor Trikala Chrysa Dintis, regional deputy governor of the primary sector Dimitris Tsetsilas, general head of Civil Defense of the Thessaly Region Ilias Leontaris, head of the 5th Ministry of Defense Fotis Seretis, the general director of the police of Thessaly Thomas Karanasios, the mayor of Elassona Nikos Gatsas and officials of the veterinary department of the region.
Stairs in the area
Then there was a meeting with local breeders. The Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras announced that the licenses of all veterinarians of the HYPAAT and the supervisory bodies have been revoked so that teams of approximately 100 veterinarians can proceed with the implementation and observance of the imposed measures, as provided by . the European regulations.
On Monday, the control of the 3 km protection zone has been completed and by Friday it is expected that the control of the 10 km surveillance zone will be completed. As the Minister indicated, all animals in the 10 km surveillance zone will be subject to clinical control, and samples will also be taken for laboratory testing.
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Referring to the measures taken, Kostas Tsiaras emphasized that the plague of small ruminants is not a danger to humans. He also said that EU regulations and measures must be fully complied with in order to deal with the disease and eradicate it. He referred to the mandatory cooperation, as he said, of all those involved in the implementation of the measures, while speaking about the role of the government, he noted that “it will stand by the livestock farmers who have been affected to them. He will support them in every way, using all European and national resources, to get back on their feet.”
“There is no need for panic, but seriousness and responsibility from everyone”, he emphasized to Mr. Tsiaras and said that “our country, with the faithful implementation of the measures, is sending a message of seriousness and security”.
Christos Kellas said, among other things, “we pay attention and ask for vigilance from all the breeders in the region, but also for their close cooperation with the veterinary services of the Region, to comply with all the health rules and protective measures, in order to have an effective intervention immediately in the event of the presence of sick or suspicious animals”.
The Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Triandopoulos said that state aid is being activated in collaboration with all the agencies involved, with an emphasis on livestock farmers who have suffered losses and have a negative economic impact. “Targeted, precisely, and after we have a complete picture, the Region of Thessaly will also be supported with emergency funding to operationally manage this difficult situation. And we will continue in close cooperation,” said Mr. Triandopoulos.
In order to limit and eventually eradicate the disease, as the Director General of the Ministry of Rural Development, Giorgos Stratakos, has emphasized, honesty from the breeders is necessary so that the competent services and veterinarians are informed about suspect a possible situation. and immediate treatment and appropriate implementation of measures.
In the last four years, Greece has faced cases of zoonotic diseases. African swine fever, coronavirus in mink, smallpox in sheep. With the faithful implementation of EU protocols and measures, the specific diseases have been eradicated and it is expected that their implementation will lead to a similar result in the case of the plague in small ruminants, Mr. Stratakos considered.
The measures implemented
In order to manage the disease, with the aim of eradicating it, it was said that what is stated in the emergency response plan for the fight against the diseases in Annex 1, of PD 138/1995 Official Gazette 88/tA is being followed as well as all the measures provided for in Regulation (EU) 2020/687.
Specifically, they relate to:
- Contaminated on-farm measures (sanitary slaughter and burial of animals)
- Limitation of Protection and Surveillance Zones around infected breeding.
- Measures in the zones above.
- Measures in the Regional Unit where the case was found.
- Conduct epidemiological research.
The regional governor of Thessaly, Dimitris Kouretas, expressed optimism regarding the treatment of the disease and emphasized that “it is a zoonosis and does not affect humans”. He expressed his satisfaction with the immediate implementation of EU regulations and the cooperation with the FSAAT.
“As soon as the first case was discovered, the services of the Region drew up a plan for epidemiological surveillance, which is essential to be able to understand where the disease has moved. Today they are taking samples from the corals around the place where the case was found yesterday. In the small zone of three km there are about 60 units and 13,500 animals. We start today then” said Mr. Kouretas and added: “We take the samples we take today to Athens at 5:00 in the morning. We will have the first snapshot of the checks done until Sunday, Monday at noon. By next Friday, the inspection will be completed in both zones. We are still vigilant and in cooperation with the Ministry.”
The representatives of the veterinary services and the representatives of the university community emphasized to the breeders that the milk, after having undergone a high pasteurization heat treatment, is completely safe for direct human consumption and processing. And meat can be eaten only after heat treatment.
During a press conference, when asked where the disease came from, the Minister of Rural Development said that “we are waiting for the final results of the epidemiological investigation to be able to reach a safe conclusion”.
When asked about the compensations that will be given to farmers whose animals are killed, Mr. Tsiaras said “when the picture of the extent of the problem is complete, specific announcements will be made”, assuring those who will be affected that the government, as it is. which has been done and in previous cases, he will stand by them and support them.
Source: RES-MPE