Greece intensifies measures to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on the island of Lesbos.

Greece has adopted strict measures to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on the island of Lesbos, aiming to prevent the disease from spreading to the mainland and other regions of Europe. The first case was registered on March 15th, when local authorities decreed an immediate lockdown on the island. Foot-and-mouth disease is highly transmissible among cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, although it does not pose a risk to human health. The virus began circulating again in the European Union in 2025, following an outbreak in Germany—the first since 2011. Although controlled in that country, new outbreaks have recently emerged in Greece and Cyprus. On the island of Lesbos, the outbreak has already led to the culling of approximately 8,000 sheep and goats in an attempt to contain the spread. According to representatives of the local sector, the economic impacts are significant. The meat and dairy industry accounts for about 80% of the island's economy, and losses already exceed 7 million euros. Sources from the Greek Ministry of Agriculture say the priority is to prevent the virus from spreading beyond the island's borders. "The disease cannot leave the island. If it reaches the mainland, it will be a catastrophic scenario for livestock farming," authorities told the European press.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.