[Epizootiology of foot and mouth disease during a quarter century (1962-1988) in Greece]

Abstract

Greece has been considered as free from FMD since 1984. During the years 1962-1988 29 primary and 240 secondary (totally 269) outbreaks had appeared in Greece. From these 187 were of Type O, 60 of Type A, 14 of Type C, 6 of Type SAT 1 and 2 of Type ASIA 1. From the 269 cases 81 appeared in Attiki, 57 in Evros (near the Turkey) and 131 in the other provinces. With reference to animal species 197 were in cattle, 60 in pigs and 12 in sheep and goats. Most of the 29 primary outbreaks appeared in January and none in December. According to the epizootiological results FMD seems to be introduced in Greece either by imported meat and meat products (especially in Attiki) or from the neighbour Turkey (especially in Evros), where the disease is enzootic. Because of the geographical position of Greece it seems very important for all EEC countries that the FMD-Institute in Athens as well as the State Veterinary Service in Evros should be better organised so that any zoonoses from Asia could be controlled without delay.