File photo. [Intime News]
A total of 450,233 animals have been killed as part of government measures to control sheep and goat pox, according to data from the Rural Development Ministry’s National Scientific Committee for the Management and Control of Sheep and Goat Pox.
From August 2024 to December 19, 2025, authorities have confirmed 1,985 cases of sheep and goat pox across 2,449 farms nationwide.
During the last reporting week, December 12–19, 2025, 74 new cases were recorded in 17 regions, including Achaia, Aitoloakarnania, Evros, Ilia, Imathia, Kavala, Karditsa, Larissa, Magnesia and Sporades, Xanthi, Pieria, Rodopi, Serres, Trikala, Fokida and the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Region.
The Committee said that moving animals for slaughter is permitted only with authorization from veterinary authorities and the required health documents. Imports of live sheep and goats from Romania and Bulgaria are banned. In restricted zones, movement is allowed solely for immediate slaughter at the nearest slaughterhouse, with animals testing negative via PCR in saliva. Only one farm may supply animals per route, slaughter days are predetermined, and strict biosecurity measures are enforced for transport, including cleaning, disinfection, and certification. Police and port authorities coordinate directly with veterinary authorities to verify documents.
The Committee also stressed that animal feed may continue to move nationwide, provided biosecurity rules are strictly followed, including sourcing from disease-free areas, using main transport routes without stops or unloading, mandatory cleaning and disinfection, record-keeping, and disposable personal protective equipment for drivers and handlers.