Over 60,000 police checks carried out in Greece amid sheep and goat pox outbreak
Greek authorities have carried out more than 60,000 police inspections since October 2025 as part of efforts to contain the spread of sheep and goat pox, with officials stressing that strict enforcement remains critical to protecting the country’s livestock sector.
According to data released by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, a total of 60,499 police checks were conducted between Oct. 14, 2025 and May 2, 2026 in connection with measures aimed at restricting the spread of the disease.
During the same period, authorities recorded 111 violations, made 109 arrests and provided 814 instances of operational assistance to relevant agencies.
The outbreak, which first appeared in Greece in August 2024, has placed severe pressure on the country’s sheep and goat farming industry. Official figures show that by April 19, 2026, a total of 2,152 cases had been confirmed across 2,660 farms, while 486,666 animals had been culled under disease-control measures.
Greek officials say cooperation between the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Hellenic Police has become a key part of efforts to prevent illegal animal transport, considered one of the main risks for creating new outbreaks.
“The inspections, operational assistance and arrests recorded since October show that enforcement on the ground is not a formal process, but an essential tool for protecting Greek livestock farming,” General Secretary for Rural Development and Food Spyris Protopsaltis told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
He said the epidemiological situation has improved compared with previous months but warned there is “no room for complacency.”
“One illegal movement can create a new outbreak and put months of effort at risk. That is why we continue with strict enforcement, full implementation of the measures and zero tolerance for practices that threaten Greek livestock farming,” he said.
Authorities intensified inspections from February onward. Between Feb. 1 and May 2 alone, officials carried out 43,764 checks, recording 71 violations and 72 arrests.
Despite the scale of inspections, officials noted that violations remain relatively limited compared with the total number of checks, attributing this partly to the deterrent effect of the controls and increasing compliance with restrictions.
The latest ministry update, covering the period from April 6 to April 19, recorded five new cases, suggesting a slowdown in the rate of new infections.
Officials attributed the decline to stricter biosecurity measures, intensified veterinary monitoring, cooperation with regional authorities and continued police support in monitoring animal movements.
Authorities said inspections will continue in targeted areas considered to be at heightened epidemiological risk, with the operational enforcement network remaining in place to further contain the disease and protect Greece’s livestock sector.
Source:AMNA
