The Greek government's efforts to eradicate the sheep and goat pox virus have raised fears that it may lead to a shortage of feta cheese, one of Greece's most famous exports. The outbreak has already resulted in the culling of hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats, with over 1,700 incidents reported across the country as of mid-November.
Sheep and goat pox is a highly contagious virus that can cause significant economic losses for farmers who are struggling to keep their herds healthy. The Greek government has been criticized for its slow response to the outbreak, with many experts arguing that more needs to be done to support affected farmers.
The financial impact of the cull will be severe, with over 4% of Greece's sheep and goat population being killed off. This is expected to lead to a shortage of feta cheese, which is made from at least 70% sheep's milk. The Greek government has offered compensation to farmers, but many are saying that it falls short of what they need.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that some farmers have been accused of breaking biosecurity rules, including illegal vaccinations. This has led to concerns about the accuracy of the data on the outbreak and the effectiveness of the eradication efforts.
As a result, Greece's feta cheese exports are likely to be affected, with many countries imposing restrictions on imports from infected areas. The UK remains one of Greece's biggest markets for feta cheese, but even this is under threat as Britain has its own rules in place regarding sheep and goat pox.
Farmers in central Greece, including Tassos Manakas, have spoken out about the devastating impact of the outbreak on their livelihoods. Many are struggling to make ends meet, with some having lost everything due to the disease.
The Greek government's efforts to tackle the outbreak will be closely watched by farmers and experts alike. However, with so many questions still unanswered, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to prevent a shortage of feta cheese.
Sheep and goat pox is a highly contagious virus that can cause significant economic losses for farmers who are struggling to keep their herds healthy. The Greek government has been criticized for its slow response to the outbreak, with many experts arguing that more needs to be done to support affected farmers.
The financial impact of the cull will be severe, with over 4% of Greece's sheep and goat population being killed off. This is expected to lead to a shortage of feta cheese, which is made from at least 70% sheep's milk. The Greek government has offered compensation to farmers, but many are saying that it falls short of what they need.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that some farmers have been accused of breaking biosecurity rules, including illegal vaccinations. This has led to concerns about the accuracy of the data on the outbreak and the effectiveness of the eradication efforts.
As a result, Greece's feta cheese exports are likely to be affected, with many countries imposing restrictions on imports from infected areas. The UK remains one of Greece's biggest markets for feta cheese, but even this is under threat as Britain has its own rules in place regarding sheep and goat pox.
Farmers in central Greece, including Tassos Manakas, have spoken out about the devastating impact of the outbreak on their livelihoods. Many are struggling to make ends meet, with some having lost everything due to the disease.
The Greek government's efforts to tackle the outbreak will be closely watched by farmers and experts alike. However, with so many questions still unanswered, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to prevent a shortage of feta cheese.
I feel bad for those farmers, they're already struggling and now this is just adding to their problems. 
The government needs to step up its game and provide more support to the farmers who are losing everything due to this disease. 4% of Greece's sheep and goat population being killed off is a huge number! 
It's not just about the feta cheese, it's about the livelihoods of these people. 
The fact that some farmers are breaking biosecurity rules doesn't help either... 
like, what are they waiting for? more funding or support for farmers would've made all the difference 
but now it seems like we're in crisis mode 
and feta cheese exports? forget about it 
greece is already facing economic challenges & this just adds fuel to the fire 
so yeah, lets hope the gov't gets their act together ASAP or greece might be facing a real shortage 
... I think the government's slow response has added fuel to the fire 
is just wild... and now we're worried about feta cheese? like, come on! 
what's next? gonna make them start calling it " pseudo-feta" or something 
. seriously tho, gotta feel for those farmers & their livelihoods... hope the gov can figure out a way to balance public health with economic impact 
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. The government needs to step up and provide more support to the farmers, not just with compensation but also with resources and training to help them deal with this outbreak.