Xanthi: Two livestock farmers charged for knowingly spreading sheeppox virus
Xanthi remains the only area where the sheeppox outbreak is still active, with a total of 91 infection sites, including 34 reported in the past month, and over 30,000 animals culled.
The first sheeppox case in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace was reported nearly a year ago, on August 18, 2024, in the Evros regional unit. Since then, Evros has recorded 140 infection sites and 29,361 culled animals, with no new cases in the last five months. The Rhodope region has reported 63 infection sites and 19,429 culled animals, with no new cases for over two months. In Kavala, there are 43 infection sites and 11,152 culled animals, with no new cases in the last one and a half months.
However, Xanthi continues to report cases, making it the epicenter of the ongoing outbreak.
Nikos Foteinias, Head of the Veterinary Services Directorate of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, told ERT Komotini that two livestock farmers were found to have violated biosecurity measures deliberately.
This is the first time farmers are facing charges for knowingly spreading the sheeppox virus. The case is under investigation by the competent committee of the Veterinary Services Directorate and has been forwarded to the local Prosecutor’s Office.
