Greece has officially regained its status as a country free of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious disease affecting sheep and goats, after the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recognized the successful eradication of the disease.

The status was restored effective Aug. 18, 2026, following a request submitted by Greece’s veterinary authorities and an assessment of the country’s data by WOAH’s Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases.

The decision was formally communicated to Greece’s Ministry of Rural Development and Food in a letter from WOAH Director General Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran.

According to WOAH, Greece meets the requirements of Article 14.7.7 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, allowing it to regain its officially recognized status as a “PPR-free country.” The restored status has also been recorded on WOAH’s official website.

International recognition of Greece’s response

WOAH specifically praised Greece for the transparency and effectiveness it demonstrated in detecting the disease and successfully managing outbreaks, as well as for restoring its official disease-free status.

The recognition follows a broad effort involving Greece’s national and regional veterinary services, as well as multiple agencies and academic institutions.

Among those involved were the veterinary services of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and regional authorities, the Hellenic Agricultural Organization, the Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA), the Hellenic Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE), the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET), meat industry vocational schools, the veterinary schools of the University of Thessaly and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the Agricultural University of Athens.

The ministry also highlighted the contribution of its General Directorate of Financial Services and General Directorate of Administrative Services and Electronic Governance, along with the Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Thessaly.

The effort included the implementation of surveillance, control and eradication measures aimed at containing the highly contagious disease.

Greece’s disease-free status was suspended in 2024

Greece’s previous PPR-free status was suspended effective July 12, 2024, following the detection of a case in Kastraki, near Kalambaka in the Thessaly region.

Greece subsequently submitted a request to WOAH to have its disease-free status restored. The request was assessed by the organization’s Scientific Commission before the status was reinstated.

The restoration is being presented as confirmation of the effectiveness of the measures taken and as an important boost to Greece’s international credibility in animal health.

Officials praise veterinary response

Spiridon Protopsaltis, Greece’s secretary general for Rural Development and Food, described the decision as an important international recognition of the country’s efforts to control PPR. “Greece regained its status as a disease-free country and, above all, an international scientific organization recognizes the transparency, adequacy and effectiveness demonstrated by the Greek veterinary authorities in managing the outbreaks,” Protopsaltis said.

He credited veterinary services at the national and regional levels, as well as everyone involved in implementing the measures, for working under particularly demanding conditions.

Protopsaltis also said Greece would continue strengthening surveillance and biosecurity, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and cooperation to protect the country’s livestock and farming sector.

Katerina Marinou, director general of Veterinary Services, said the restoration of Greece’s status was the result of a coordinated and demanding effort involving veterinary authorities and institutions across the country.

She highlighted the role of the National Reference Laboratories for PPR, veterinary professionals working with ELGO, ELGA, OPEKEPE and EFET, meat industry vocational schools and veterinary and agricultural universities.

According to Marinou, eradication of the PPR virus was achieved through what she described as the largest veterinary mobilization ever carried out in Greece.