The measures for the eradication of the plague disease that appeared in sheep and goat breeding in the municipal unit of Kalambaka, of the municipality of Meteora, were discussed in a wide meeting held at the offices of the P.E. Trikala under the Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development and Food, Christos Kella and the G.G. of Agricultural Development and Food, Giorgos Stratakos.

Representatives of the Region, ELAS, the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaly and the breeders from all the regional units of Thessaly participated, and among others protection and surveillance zones (3 and 10 km) were defined centered on the unit where a confirmed case was found and the measures applicable to each of these two zones.

As stated in a statement by the HYPAAT, a few hours after the confirmation of the case, the veterinary authorities of the regional unit of Trikala proceeded to the slaughter and sanitary burial of the animals in the unit where the case was detected. The unit was disinfected and sealed.

In addition, the animal health surveillance of all units located within the protection zones began today, with clinical examinations on all animals and sampling where necessary, for further laboratory control.

Epidemiological research is ongoing in order to establish how the disease appeared, given that there had never been a similar case in our country and Greece was officially free of this specific disease.

Present at the meeting were representatives of the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaly, whose scientific knowledge is important, as well as their assistance by providing doctoral students, who will strengthen the surveillance crews.

On behalf of the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food, in addition to the deputy minister Christos Kellas and the general secretary Giorgos Stratakos, the general director of Veterinary Medicine, Makis Alexandropoulos and the head of the department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Georgios Komitas, participated.

The meeting was also attended by:

Christoula Didi, deputy regional governor of Trikala

Dimitris Tsetsilas, thematic deputy regional governor of the Primary Sector of the Region of Thessaly

Konstantinos Maravas, mayor of Pyli

Dimitris Kottis, president of Meteora Cattle Breeders

Spyridon Agnandis, mayor of Farkadona

Georgios Valiakos, professor of Microbiology and Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Karditsa

Dimitris Baloukas, president of the Federation of Livestock Breeders of Thessaly,

Nikos Palaskas, general secretary of the Panhellenic Association of Livestock Breeders and Deputy Mayor for Rural Development of Elassona

Theodoros Efthimiou, president of the Butchers’ Association of Trikala and Secretary General of the Chamber of Trikala

Panagiotis Tsiambalis, Department Head of Veterinary Public Health of Thessaly

Dimitris Stavridis, general manager of the Agricultural Economy and Veterinary Region of Thessaly

Dimitris Dimos, on behalf of the Panhellenic Association of Breeders of Native Breeds of Farm Animals

Athanasios Konstantinidis, director of the Veterinary Region of Thessaly

Sevasti Aslanidou, deputy director of Veterinary Medicine P.E. Karditsa

Despina Bamiha, director of Veterinary Medicine Kalambaka

Nicoleta Tziortzioti, vice-president of the Federation of Livestock Breeders of Thessaly P.E. Trikala

Spyridon Zandrivas, head of the Veterinary Department P.E. Trikala

Athanasios Kappas, Deputy Director of the Trikala Police Department

Ioannis Bardanikas, member of the Federation of Livestock Associations of Thessaly.