Foot-and-mouth disease epidemic: army, destruction of herds and possible rise in food prices

Foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Lesbos turns from a veterinary problem into a full-blown one socio-economic crisis: authorities the army was involved in the operationthe number of animals killed has reached tens of thousands, and farmers warn that the disappearance of herds will inevitably hit the production of milk, meat and local cheeses.

According to Greek media, by the beginning of September the island had already been forcibly destroyed. more than 80 thousand sheep, goats and other animals susceptible to infection. For comparison, the total livestock population in Lesbos is estimated at approximately 400–450 thousand.

In other words, we can talk about almost a fifth of the island’s total livestock. Moreover, the sanitary operation continues, and its final scale cannot yet be determined.

The latest news about the epidemic and its impact on Greek agriculture can be followed in the sections “Society” And “Economy” publication “Athens News”.

Why was the army involved in the operation?

The decision to involve the Ministry of National Defense was made after serious disagreements between the central authorities, regional administration, veterinary services and livestock farmers.

In accordance with the adopted amendment, military structures receive functions operational coordination in areas where infection is spreading. We are talking about controlling the movement of animals, organizing sanitary slaughter and burial of carcasses, disinfection, protecting contaminated areas and implementing restrictive measures.

At the same time, scientific and veterinary leadership remains with the Ministry of Agriculture. Thus, the Army does not replace veterinarians, but provides logistics and execution of decisions in an emergency.

As noted Greek edition in.grthe military’s intervention came after local problems arose in complying with orders to trace contacts and destroy infected herds.

To finance anti-epidemic measures, the region of the Northern Aegean Islands has been additionally allocated 3 million euros.

Farmers demand vaccination

Livestock farmers in Lesvos believe that the policy of mass destruction of animals is leading the industry to disaster. During the visit of Deputy Minister of Agriculture Thanasis Kavvadas, they demanded to start vaccination, speed up the payment of compensation and present a concrete plan for restoring the herd.

“No vaccines – only promises and the destruction of animals,” – this is how representatives of farmers summed up the meeting with the deputy minister.

The position of livestock farmers after negotiations with the government is reported in.gr.

From the point of view of farmers, without vaccination, the infection will continue to spread, and sanitary services will destroy more and more herds. For the farm owner, this means not just the loss of animals, but also the actual stoppage of the business.

Authorities, however, must take into account that emergency vaccination also has consequences. It requires strict accounting of each vaccinated animal, constant laboratory monitoring and may temporarily affect the veterinary status of the region and trade in livestock products.

Therefore, the vaccine is not an instant replacement for quarantine and sanitary slaughter. However, if the infection spreads on a large scale, it can become an additional tool to save part of the livestock.

Is foot and mouth disease dangerous for people?

Foot and mouth disease is an extremely contagious viral disease of artiodactyl animals.: cows, sheep, goats, pigs and some wild species.

For humans, the disease does not pose such an epidemiological threat as for farm animals. The main danger is not associated with the consumption of products that have passed veterinary control, but with the rapid spread of the virus between farms.

Therefore, the destruction of herds is carried out primarily to break the chain of transmission of infection and protect other farms, and not because meat or dairy products in stores have suddenly become dangerous for customers.

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