Preventive measures to protect cattle from outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in Greece
| 20 July 2016 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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According to the Kozani Veterinary Department, a widespread outbreak of lumpy skin disease is affecting cattle in Bulgaria, FYROM and Serbia and is increasingly spreading to Greece especially Macedonia. Cases have also been recorded nearby around Mount Vermion in the Imathia regional unit.
For the purposes of prevention and livestock protection, the Veterinary Department is accordingly planning to vaccinate all cattle on farms in the Kozani regional unit against this serious disease.
In fact, there is no known cure for the disease and preventive measures are necessary to protect against insects carrying the virus, using suitable insecticides in stables, ensuring that livestock is not kept out in the open in the afternoon and evening, so as to prevent insect bites, and stepping up the monitoring of animal movements.
In view of this:
| 1. | Can the Commission say what measures it intends to adopt in cooperation with the Greek authorities to prevent Greek cattle breeders being exposed to outbreaks of lumpy skin disease? When will these measures be adopted? |
| 2. | What measures will it approve to compensate Greek cattle breeders for losses sustained as a result? |
Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission
Following a request from the Greek Authorities, the current decisions for protective measures and vaccination against Lumpy Skin Disease in Greece(1) were amended to include the entire area of continental Greece.
Affected Member States receive financial support for the implementation of emergency measures against Lumpy Skin, including purchase of vaccines, vaccination and compensation of farmers for the culling of their animals, at a rate of at least 50% (or 75%) of the costs incurred.
Greece has already received an advanced payment of EUR 3 150 000 to compensate for the outbreaks which occurred in 2015 and a grant of 100 000 doses of vaccine from the EU Lumpy Skin Disease vaccine bank.
Completion of the vaccination campaign against Lumpy Skin Disease is the key measure to control the epidemic and reduce the number of animals culled and the Commission will continue to support Greece’s efforts in this area.
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