What is the purpose of the sheep disease surveillance in Greece?
The primary objective of the sheep disease surveillance in Greece is to map the presence of goat sheep plague antibodies to identify regions that are officially virus-free. This identification is the prerequisite for the reconstitution of livestock herds, a process that has been stalled for two and a half years. Without a clear distinction between infected and clean zones, the Greek agricultural sector cannot move past the current emergency management phase.
The surveillance process, which was initiated via an urgent circular, involves a specific sampling methodology. In each of the nine selected regions, authorities will randomly select 153 farms. From every participating flock, 15 samples must be taken for laboratory analysis. This data is intended to provide a scientific basis for the European Union Veterinary Emergency Task Force (EUVET) to help Greece transition out of the disease management regime.
The technical requirements of the sampling process
The effectiveness of this surveillance depends heavily on the precision of the laboratory testing. The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food has indicated that the process is currently awaiting the arrival of necessary reagents required to equip four specialized laboratories. These laboratories will be responsible for analyzing the blood samples to detect specific antibodies. If the reagents are not delivered promptly, the deadline of late December 2026 for the completion of the process may be missed, potentially delaying the recovery of the primary sector even further.
Why has Greece avoided vaccination for goat sheep plague?
Greece has opted for a strict eradication protocol involving movement restrictions and culling rather than a vaccination program. This decision was driven by two main concerns: the lack of EU-approved DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) vaccines and the potential risk to the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status of Greek feta cheese. Because current vaccines cannot distinguish between antibodies from natural infection and those from vaccination, the government feared that a vaccinated animal might be misidentified as an active case.
The government's stance is that using non-DIVA vaccines could jeopardize international exports of feta. However, this argument has faced scrutiny from international observers. For instance, Cyprus managed to continue exporting its PDO halloumi cheese even while implementing a protective vaccination program during an outbreak of African Swine Fever. Furthermore, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Oliver Varhelyi, has previously noted that vaccination could be permitted with Commission authorization using vaccines provided by the European vaccine bank.
How has the lack of vaccination affected the agricultural sector?
The decision to forgo vaccination has led to significant economic losses and a rise in unregulated practices. Since the outbreak began, approximately 500,000 sheep have been culled as part of the official eradication protocol. Under the current rules, if a single animal in a flock tests positive for the virus, the entire flock must be slaughtered. This high-stakes environment has left many farmers in a state of professional limbo for over two years.
The slow implementation of the eradication protocol, exacerbated by severe understaffing within regional veterinary services, has reportedly led to the occurrence of illegal vaccinations. According to Charalambos Billinis, the former head of the National Scientific Committee for the Management of Goat Sheep Plague and Rector of the University of Thessaly, there were indications that as many as 1,000,000 illegal vaccinations had taken place in Greece. These unauthorized actions were often a desperate response by farmers attempting to protect their livelihoods from the mandatory culling rules.
What are the risks associated with the new surveillance results?
The most controversial aspect of the upcoming surveillance is the fate of flocks that test positive for antibodies. Under current European legislation, any flock found to have antibodies is treated as a potential source of infection and must be culled. This creates a significant risk for farmers: if a flock tests positive, it may be impossible to prove whether the antibodies are due to a natural infection, a failure to declare the flock, or the very illegal vaccinations that farmers used to try to save them.
This ambiguity has caused significant friction between the central government and regional authorities. Several regional governors and representatives have expressed deep concerns regarding the transparency and utility of the process. For example, Nikos Korovesis, the Vice Governor of Ilia, has stated that while he supports surveillance aimed at understanding the virus, he strongly opposes any method that appears to target farmers for fines or culls based on the results of unauthorized vaccination history.
What is the current status of the surveillance rollout?
As of late October 2026, the surveillance process has not yet officially commenced despite the urgent nature of the government's circular. While the deadline for completion is set for the end of December, Spyros Protopsaltis, the Secretary-General for Rural Development and Food, has suggested that an extension to the timeline is a distinct possibility. The delay is largely attributed to the logistical challenge of equipping the necessary laboratories with the required chemical reagents.
Regional leaders are also reporting a lack of clear communication from the central ministry. In regions such as Thessaly and Serres, local officials have noted that they are waiting for specific instructions on how the sampling will be conducted. There is a growing sense of uncertainty among local administrations regarding whether the surveillance is a genuine scientific effort to clear the country or a mechanism that will ultimately lead to more livestock losses and economic penalties for producers.
Key takeaways
- Nearly 500,000 sheep have been culled in Greece during the goat sheep plague eradication process.
- The surveillance involves sampling 153 random farms per region to identify virus-free zones.
- Greece avoided vaccination to protect the PDO status of feta cheese and due to the lack of DIVA vaccines.
- Illegal vaccinations are estimated to have reached up to 1,000,000 cases due to strict culling protocols.
- The completion of the surveillance is currently delayed pending the arrival of laboratory reagents.
FAQ: Sheep disease surveillance in Greece
What happens if a flock tests positive during surveillance?
Under European law, flocks that test positive for antibodies are considered active cases of the disease. This typically results in the mandatory culling of the entire flock to prevent further spread, a rule that has caused significant tension between farmers and the state.
Why is the surveillance necessary for farmers?
Surveillance is the only way to officially certify certain regions as "virus-free." Once a region is certified clean, farmers who have lost their herds to the virus can finally begin the process of rebuilding their flocks and returning to productive agricultural work.
How does this affect the Greek feta industry?
The government's primary concern is that vaccination could complicate the PDO status of feta. If antibodies cannot be distinguished from vaccines, the integrity of the product's origin could be questioned by international markets, potentially harming high-value exports.
What is the role of EUVET in this process?
The EU Veterinary Emergency Task Force (EUVET) provided the recommendation for Greece to implement this specific surveillance methodology. Their guidance aims to provide a scientifically sound way to synchronize the disease status across different Greek regions.
Why has the surveillance been delayed?
The delay is primarily due to logistical issues, specifically the wait for essential chemical reagents. These reagents are required by the four specialized laboratories that will perform the blood analysis on the samples collected from the farms.
Conclusion
The implementation of sheep disease surveillance in Greece represents a pivotal, albeit high-risk, moment for the nation's agricultural recovery. While the procedure is scientifically necessary to identify virus-free zones and allow for herd reconstitution, the shadow of previous losses—nearly half a million sheep—hangs heavily over the process. The tension between strict eradication protocols and the economic survival of farmers remains unresolved. As the country awaits laboratory readiness, the outcome of this surveillance will ultimately determine whether the primary sector can move past this multi-year crisis or if further economic instability will follow.
