The island of Lesvos is grappling with a deepening foot-and-mouth disease emergency, with confirmed cases reaching 43 and new outbreaks appearing 50 kilometers from the original sites – a sign, officials say, of failing biosecurity measures.
The agriculture minister, Margaritis Schinas, condemned farmers holding blockades at the island’s port and preventing veterinary access to their livestock as “unacceptable and criminally liable,” warning that government support payments are contingent on compliance.
“The Greek government cannot fund illegal acts,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the regional governor publicly sided with farmers opposing culling, declaring, “We are against the death penalty – for humans and animals alike.”
Farmers are demanding mass vaccination, but health officials say a full epidemiological survey must come first.
Roughly 10,000 animals have already been slaughtered.
The government announced four compensation measures, including €70 per sheep or goat and €8 million already disbursed for lost milk production.
Officials invoked Britain’s catastrophic 2001 outbreak – when over six million animals were destroyed – as a warning of what unchecked spread could bring.