ATHENS – Contradicting some earlier reports about the impact that the so-called Goat Plague may have in Greece, as animals are being separated from herds and killed to prevent its spread, farmers said there won’t be a drop in feta production.

There was a nationwide ban put in place against the moving of livestock as veterinarians, including those brought in from the military, were trying to assess the effect of the animal plague that officials said came in from Romania.

And livestock industry officials were trying to dampen worries that the killing of thousands of animals could cut the amount of popular cheeses, especially the “white gold” of feta that has a protection of origin from the European Union.

“Around 9,000 animals have had to be killed because of the outbreak but it won’t endanger feta exports,” said Christos Tsopanos, a senior figure at the Association of Greek Livestock (SEK) told the British newspaper The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/aug/04/sheep-goat-plague-feta-production-greek-farmers-virus

“Our country has 14 million goats and sheep, more than any other (European Union) state,” he said of the bloc that has 27 member states but Greece especially known for flocks tended to by shepherds in rural areas.

He said that despite the virus known as Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) – which can kill 80-100 percent of infected animals – that some 120,000 tons of feta, whose prices had already been rising, would be produced in 2024.

“We have enough milk. Authorities have moved fast to deal with this situation,” he said, without addressing how prices might be affected as they’ve risen enough to drive many consumers to cheaper brands or alternative soft white cheeses.

EU regulations state that if a PPR case is detected in any herd the entire flock must be culled. Affected areas, including farmsteads, have to be disinfected, which many farmers are doing to protect what’s left of livestock after 2023 deadly floods.

More than 200,000 animals have been tested for the infection, mostly in the central Thessaly region, where the outbreak was first reported and where farmers are still recovering from the floods that also wiped out fields.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Kostas Tsiaras  has also banned the commercial slaughter of goats and sheep, raising fears as well of meat shortages if it lasts for long.

“Tightening security measures across the country is deemed necessary for preventive reasons and is aimed at limiting the spread and eradicating the disease,” the ministry said in a statement.

Greek officials have emphasized that the virus does not affect humans. “Consumers must understand that only animals are affected by this disease,” said SEK’s Vice-President, Dimitris Moskos. “This is the first time it has appeared in Greece and we now believe it was imported from Romania in herds destined for slaughter.”