28,000 animals culled on Lesvos as foot-and-mouth disease spreads
Nearly 30,000 farm animals have been culled on the island of Lesvos as authorities attempt to contain a fast-spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
According to the Rural Development Ministry, 76 cases have been confirmed since mid-March, including 28 in the past two weeks, raising concerns over the effectiveness of containment measures.
Officials said entire herds are being destroyed if a single infection is detected, with sheep, goats and cattle affected. It is Greece’s first outbreak of the disease in more than 25 years.
The crisis comes as the livestock sector is already under pressure from sheep and goat pox, which has led to the culling of nearly half a million animals nationwide since 2024.
Authorities aim to prevent the disease from spreading beyond Lesvos, as cases have also been reported in Cyprus and neighboring Turkiye.
The government has pledged compensation for farmers but ruled out vaccinations due to potential export restrictions, a decision that has drawn criticism from producers.
Officials stressed that strict biosecurity measures remain essential to contain the outbreak, noting the disease spreads easily through contact, contaminated equipment and even airborne transmission.
Source:Kathimerini
