AFV: 500,000 vaccine doses from Turkey secured for sheep disease, EU supplies requested

The Agency for Food and Veterinary (AFV) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy say a donation of 500,000 vaccine doses from Turkey has been secured and is expected to arrive in the coming days, while additional quantities have been requested from the European Commission.

Authorities stressed that the animal health situation is being continuously monitored and that all necessary measures are being implemented. They also confirmed that a formal request for expert support has been submitted to the EUVET team of the European Commission.

"Support from the EUVET team of the European Commission has been requested again. Before use, the vaccines will necessarily be laboratory tested for safety and purity, and vaccination will begin after confirmation of the results, according to an official plan and under the control of the Agency for Food and Veterinary," said the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy.

Warning to farmers against independent vaccination

Officials warned that any vaccinations carried out independently by livestock owners, at their own expense and without prior approval from the AFV, will be sanctioned and those animals will not be eligible for compensation if they fall ill or are culled.

The ministry and AFV emphasised that uncontrolled use of vaccines can complicate epidemiological surveillance, reduce the effectiveness of the measures taken and create additional risks for flocks.

Early detection and control is being carried out through contracted veterinary societies. After each report of a suspicious case, veterinarians take blood and swab samples from the animals and send them for laboratory testing. The action follows warnings from sheep breeders, who say between 7,000 and 10,000 animals have died so far and who have demanded urgent vaccination and a special compensation fund for affected farmers.

Photo: press material from the event