Core Insights - The ongoing spread of sheep and goat pox in Greece has led to the culling of approximately 417,000 sheep and goats, impacting the production and export of the renowned Feta cheese, raising concerns about potential shortages in the market [3] Group 1: Impact on Feta Cheese Production - The first cases of sheep and goat pox were reported in August 2024 in northern Greece, and the disease has since spread to multiple regions [3] - Approximately 5% of the total sheep and goat population in Greece has been culled due to the outbreak, which poses a significant threat to the supply of sheep milk used for Feta cheese production [3] - Feta cheese, recognized as a European Union geographical indication product, relies on sheep and goat milk, with about 80% of this milk being used for its production [3] Group 2: Economic Consequences for Farmers - The export value of Feta cheese reached €785 million last year, indicating its importance to the Greek economy [3] - Farmers are facing severe economic challenges due to the loss of livestock, with government compensation ranging from €132 to €220 per culled sheep, which many farmers claim is insufficient to cover their losses [3] - Emotional distress is also a significant factor for farmers, as they experience not only financial loss but also the trauma of losing their livestock [3] Group 3: Vaccination and Control Measures - Some farmers are advocating for large-scale vaccination against the disease, drawing on experiences from Bulgaria and Turkey, but the Greek government is hesitant due to fears of being classified as an endemic country, which could restrict cheese exports [3] - The lack of officially certified vaccines for sheep pox in Greece complicates the situation further [3] - Reports indicate that up to 1 million illegal vaccinations may have been conducted by farmers, distorting the data and complicating disease control efforts [4]