Greece bans sheep and goat transport after pox outbreak

Greece has banned the transportation and reproduction of sheep and goats across the country for 10 days after detecting more than 100 pox infections, the agriculture ministry said. The measures are precautionary and are aimed at containing the spread of the virus, which does not affect humans, the ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. So far, 104 cases have been detected, most of them in the northern area of Evros. About 17,500 animals have been culled. The disease was also detected in animals as far south as the prefectures of Magnissia and in Corinthia. In Magnissia and Corinthia, livestock breeders, dairy producers, slaughterhouses and feed suppliers have been warned of the smallpox breakout, while veterinarian teams are carrying out inspections in the protection zone of a 3 km radius and the surveillance zone of a 10 km radius. “Starting today, we announce a complete ban on the movement of sheep and goats for breeding, fattening, grazing and slaughter, throughout the ...