The establishment of a national scientific committee for the management and control of smallpox in sheep was announced by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, speaking at a press conference on the progress of the implementation and intensification of smallpox control measures.

The Rector of the University of Thessaly, Charalambos Billinis, will be the chairman of the Committee, while the composition will mainly include university members. The General Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Spyros Protopsaltis, will also be a member of the committee. “We are facing a large number of cases and we are called upon to make decisions that will initiate, based on scientific knowledge, specific planning that will enable us to deal with zoonosis,” he said.

Already, more than 350,000 animals have been killed. “We will deal with smallpox. In the coming days, we will be able to implement a comprehensive plan and create positive conditions,” he said.

The committee, according to the minister, will recommend to the political leadership of the ministry ways to address and update the smallpox action plan, on the pattern of the corresponding committee for coronavirus. At the same time, it will monitor the progress of the disease and work closely with the districts, implementing evidence-based measures.

Nil compensation in cases of illegal vaccination

The committee will also take a role in the issue of compensation and will recommend “zero compensation to farmers who do not comply with the measures and carry out illegal vaccination,” he said. “Violation will be punished,” he added, specifying that the committee will work closely with the police and prosecution authorities. Care will be taken to ensure that animals killed are burned within 72 hours.

“We have referred any misconduct to the judiciary and have indicated sites for the landfill of animals killed,” he said, adding that 40 million euros have already been allocated for the animals killed.