An outbreak of smallpox has been confirmed in a sheep farm in the local community of Toumba of the Municipality of Emmanuel Pappa in the Regional Unit of Serres, according to an announcement by the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine of the General Directorate of Agricultural Economy and Veterinary Medicine of the Central Macedonia Region.

As pointed out, the protection and surveillance zones were demarcated which include the areas within a radius of 3 and 10 kilometers respectively from the infected farm as well as the further prohibited zone which includes 5 of the 7 municipalities of the Serres Regional Unit.

The Region of Central Macedonia draws the attention of the owners of sheep and/or goat farms as well as those involved in their trade and movement (responsible slaughterhouses, traders, etc.) for the early detection of symptoms as well as for the immediate notification of the veterinary authorities, in order preventing the spread of the disease.

It reminds that the smallpox disease is a viral, notifiable disease, which can seriously affect the relevant animal population and the agricultural economy of the country, and states that to deal with it, an emergency response plan is being implemented, according to which all animals of sensitive species of the farm. However, he emphasizes that sheep pox is not transmissible to humans and calls on owners of sheep and goat farms to increase biosecurity measures in their farms.