Greece faces a crisis with avian and goat pox, choosing culling over vaccination due to feta cheese export concerns.
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Greece is facing a dilemma regarding an outbreak of avian and goat pox, which has led to the culling of nearly half a million animals since its detection on August 21, 2024, in northern Greece, with 1985 confirmed cases across 2449 farms. Despite recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health and the European Commission, the Greek government is refusing vaccination. Experts suggest culling remains the most effective and fastest method to control the virus because it is highly resilient in the environment, posing a risk of spread by insects up to 12 kilometers. Furthermore, microbiologists indicate that culling is economically linked to feta cheese production, as 80 percent of Greek poultry and goat milk is used for this protected origin cheese, which is heavily exported. If Greece were to vaccinate its flocks, it risks losing its disease-free status and being classified as endemic, leading to severe export restrictions on the feta cheese industry. While Lithuania faces a low but not zero risk from avian and goat pox—a viral disease causing fever, pustules, internal damage, especially in lungs, and death—current situations are controlled due to strict controls in affected countries like Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece. Experts warn that potential entry into Lithuania could occur through the import of asymptomatic infected animals or contaminated transport, as the virus can persist in the environment for extended periods if not properly disinfected.
