Greece is facing renewed concerns over foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral illness affecting livestock. Recent confirmations of the virus on the island of Lesbos have prompted authorities to implement urgent containment measures.
What is Foot-and-Mouth Disease?
FMD primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. It can also infect certain wild species. The virus spreads extremely quickly, both through direct contact and indirectly via contaminated equipment, vehicles, footwear, or airborne particles. While it does not infect humans, its impact on animal health, farm productivity, and the trade of livestock products is severe.
Recognizing Symptoms
Infected animals may show fever, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and blisters in the mouth, hooves, or udder. Lameness, decreased milk production, and sudden deaths in young animals can also occur.
Why Is It Considered a High-Risk Disease?
FMD is classified as a Category A disease under EU rules, meaning it does not normally occur in Europe and requires immediate action when detected. Strict biosecurity, quarantine, and culling of infected animals are mandatory to prevent the spread of the virus.
Containment Measures
Authorities establish protection zones of at least 3 kilometers around an outbreak, surveillance zones of 10 kilometers, and restricted zones of 20 kilometers for a minimum of 30 days. Movement of animals, animal products, and potentially contaminated materials is strictly controlled. Disinfection and careful management of infected carcasses are also enforced.
Lesbos has already been declared in a state of emergency, and local authorities are distributing disinfectants and other supplies to support affected farmers.
