A livestock farmer from northern Greece captured national attention after collapsing from emotional distress as his entire flock of 450 sheep was ordered to be culled due to an outbreak of sheep pox.
Kostas Theofilou, a longtime shepherd from a rural community near Thessaloniki, had spent decades raising a traditional local breed. When veterinary authorities confirmed the infectious disease among the animals, the family was informed that all remaining sheep would be euthanized to prevent further spread.
Theofilou, his wife, and their daughters were seen tearfully saying goodbye to the animals that had sustained their family for years. According to local reports, the emotional strain proved overwhelming for the farmer, who collapsed and was taken to a hospital in the nearby town of Giannitsa with symptoms resembling a stroke.
He has since been discharged and his condition has stabilized, but the loss of his livelihood has left the family devastated.
The culling of livestock is a standard measure in Greece and across the EU when cases of sheep pox are detected, as the disease is highly contagious among small ruminants. For Theofilou and his family, however, the requirement has meant the sudden end of a lifetime’s work.
