MP Hüseyin Zeybek calls for urgent measures against foot-and-mouth disease
New Left Party MP for Xanthi and head of agricultural policy, Hüseyin Zeybek, has submitted a written question to the Greek Parliament, calling for urgent measures to prevent the entry of foot-and-mouth disease into the country and to strengthen veterinary services.
In his statement, Zeybek reminded the public of previous epidemics such as peste des petits ruminants and sheep and goat pox, which severely impacted small livestock farming. He warned that Greek animal husbandry now faces a new and serious threat.
Zeybek based his warning on statements issued by the Panhellenic Federation of Agricultural Public Employees (POGEDY), which has sounded the alarm about the spread of foot-and-mouth disease — a highly contagious animal disease.
He noted that the disease has already been reported in Hungary and Slovakia.
Zeybek also highlighted that live animal imports from Romania had already been banned due to a plague outbreak there, and warned that any attempts to import live lambs from Hungary to Greece would pose a serious risk of the disease spreading into the country.
