Emergency meeting on the cases of plague of goats and sheep in Thessalyis taking place today in Larissa under the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras.

Outbreaks of sheep and goat plague appeared in the Trikala Regional Unit, while the occurrence was confirmed new focus of the disease in breeding of PE Larissa, at Domenico of Municipality of Elassonaaccording to information from the Veterinary Service of the Region of Thessaly.

As the competent agency states in its announcement, “it is about contagious viral disease Mandatory Declaration affecting only sheep and goats and requiring immediate emergency measures’. It is emphasized that it is first time that the disease appears in our country”.

At the same time, the Veterinary Service of the Region of Thessaly emphasizes to the public that the disease does not pose a risk to public health, it is not transmissible to humanswho does not get infected and does not get sick”.

However, he adds that “the effects in animal husbandry, in the local economy and by extension in the national economy is huge and threaten the livestock of the Region and its export activity”.

Among other things, the Veterinary Service states that in order to successfully deal with this very serious epizootic, “it is necessary for all breeders and the public to understand that immediate measures must be taken, always in accordance with EU and national emergency legislation”.

Symptoms and how it is transmitted

In the announcement of the competent agency, it is emphasized that the symptoms in sensitive animals are high fever, collapse and drowsiness, shortness of breath and cough, profuse diarrhoea, lesions with serous fluid around the eyes and nose, profuse salivation from the mouth (picture of a wet face), changes inside the mouth (white plaques on the gums and inside the lips) and sudden mass deaths.

Regarding the mode of transmission, the service states that: “The transmission of the disease occurs: by close contact between healthy and sick animals, by direct contact with the secretions of sick animals (tears, saliva, urine, feces) and indirectly through contaminated feed, bedding, machinery and media transport of animals».

About him way of protection of the herd, the Veterinary Service advises breeders “to avoid direct contact of their animals with other herds of unknown status, to borrow and lend animals, tools and animal transport vehicles from other farms, as well as illegal buying and selling and illegal movement of animals.

They must also regularly clean and disinfect their breeding areas and check their herd thoroughly every day for the presence of sick or suspicious animals. If they find anything worrying, they should immediately contact the relevant local veterinary authorities.”

The measures taken immediately to deal with the disease:

1. Protection Zones of 3 km radius and 10 km Surveillance Zones have been created around the infected farms which include the following communities:

Mr. Larissa

i. Protection Zone 3 km: Amouri, Domeniko, Pretori, Magoula

ii. 10 km Surveillance Zone: Kefalovryso, Agioneri, Paleokastro, Evangelismos, Sykia, Verdikousia, Abelia, Paliabela, Vlahogianni, Stefanovouno, Aetorachi, Galanovrysi, Lefki, Mesochori, Kalyvia Analipsi, Paliaskia.

PE TRIKALON

i. Protection Zone 3 km: TK Kastraki

ii. 10 km Surveillance Zone: Kalambaka, Kastraki, Diava, Trefyllia, Krya Vrysi, Abelia, Elafi, Mourgani, Orthovouni, Megali Kerasia, Agios Dimitrios, Xirokampos, Mykani, Gavros, Skepari, Vlahava, Aura, Agia Paraskevi, Sarakina.

Finally, the Veterinary Service of the Region of Thessaly states in its announcement that “because the disease is ongoing, further specialized measures deemed necessary to be taken according to the course of the disease will be announced by decisions of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Regional Coordinating Disease Control Center of the Region of Thessaly”.