Mandatory culling of livestock on Lesvos to control foot-and-mouth disease

On April 22, 2026, the Secretary General of the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Spyros Protopsaltis, announced the mandatory culling of livestock on the island of Lesvos to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The culling process is required by European Union directives to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus to the Greek mainland, which officials warned would be catastrophic for the country's livestock industry. Protopsaltis suggested that the initial transmission of the disease to Greece may have originated from cases imported from Turkey. Farmers impacted by the mandatory culling are expected to receive financial compensation, with the next cycle of payments scheduled for late April 2026. While culling remains the primary current strategy for eradication, authorities are awaiting further scientific recommendations from experts regarding a potential vaccination policy. This measure is described as necessary despite the significant psychological and economic burden placed on local farmers.