Tsiaras: Strengthening biosecurity measures without resorting to vaccination a national choice

Strengthening biosecurity measures and not resorting to vaccination are a national choice, Rural Development and Food Minister Kostas Tsiaras said on Wednesday, speaking to ERTNEWS.

"Tackling [sheep and goat] pox is not an individual issue, it is a national issue for Greek livestock farming," Tsiaras noted, emphasising that the country is currently "at approximately the same point as last year at the same period, with a similar number of cases," This, he pointed out, indicates that the disease is in remission. "It is vital that we end the cycle of sheep pox by the end of the year, so that we can immediately enter the recovery phase," he added.

Speaking about reinforcing biosecurity measures, the minister emphasised that "the main reason for the transmission of the virus can be found in the illegal movement of animals, people or vehicles that can transmit sheep pox."