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Hellenic Republic Ministry of Reconstruction of Production Environment and Energy Directorate General of Veterinary Services Animal Health Directorate Dept of Infectious Diseases

Confirmation of Lumpy Skin Disease in two bovine holdings in Greece in the Evros Delta area

Preliminary report of the Veterinary Authorities of Greece

Situation as at 21 August 2015

The present report provides detailed information regarding the confirmation of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in animals of two different holdings of beef cattle, both located in the Evros Prefecture (South Evros region close to the Evros river that forms the natural border between Greece and Turkey within the Evros Delta area ). This is the first time that LSD is confirmed in Greece and, to the best of our knowledge the first time the disease has been confirmed anywhere in the EU. Background information From the epidemiological information available through the OIE (WAHIS) and the ADNS regarding LSD it was clear, over the past couple of years that the disease kept advancing steadily from the Middle East to the southern part of Turkey (borders with Syria) and through the Turkish territory (directions North, North East –North West) covering hundreds of kilometres within months , in an almost exponential fashion without any signs of retreat. Over the past few months LSD continued its spread through Turkish ground, gradually reaching as close as a few kilometres from the Aegean coast of Turkey (e.g. opposite the Greek Island of Chios) and a few kilometres from the Marmara Sea coast (e.g very close to the Anatolian sector of the wider Istanbul area). More recently (June 2015) it was reported through the ADNS system, for the first time, the confirmation of two (2) Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) outbreaks, in area of European Turkey , namely the Edirne District , very close (approximately 7-15 km) to the border with Greece. The veterinary authorities of Greece , in view of the above epidemiological situation that brought LSD closer and closer to the country’s eastern border, adopted a number of precautionary measures to enhance safeguard and help prepare their response in case the disease would come at a dangerously close point. These measures included , among others (trainings, and intensified clinical surveillance for the disease within a 10 km zone along the Greco – Turkish border (information circulated to the E. Commission with our report dated 19 June 2015).

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General information about the farming sector of the Evros regional unit (information relevant for cattle). Although , administratively, Evros constitutes an integral Regional Unit (same as Evros prefecture according to the previous administrative division of the country ) for practical reasons , a distinction is made over the past years ,between North and South Evros since each of these areas falls under the competence of two separate local veterinary authorities and to a certain extent each has some unique features as regards the farming industry they share. Tables 2 and 3 below provide an overview of the bovine livestock as well as some specific info regarding the Evros Delta. Table 2: Bovines of the entire Evros regional unit

Area

Bovines

Comments No of holdings

No of heads

North Evros (Total cattle)

192 5.100 Mostly dairy cattle

South Evros (Total dairy

cattle) 19 2.400 -

South Evros (Total beef

cattle ) 509 11.612 -

TOTALS 720 19.112

Table 3: Bovines of Evros Delta

Area Bovines

Comments No of holdings

No of heads

Evros Delta (part of the South Evros area - total

cattle)

130 7.500 Almost exclusively beef cattle, in their

vast majority free – grazing.

In addition Evros hosts one slaughterhouse for ruminants and pigs (North Evros) , a dairy factory (North Evros ) and a meat processing plant (South Evros) .

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Recent Events A suspicion of LSD was reported , almost simultaneously, in two different bovine holdings (beef cattle) of the Evros Prefecture within the limits of the Evros Delta National Park 1 on 18 August 2015. Clinical examination of affected cattle , demonstrating nodules in the neck and elsewhere in the body along with respiratory symptoms was followed by prompt collection of samples and dispatch of those to the competent state laboratory ( Directorate of Athens Veterinary Center, Dept of Molecular Diagnostics, FMD, virological, Rickettsial and Exotic Diseases for testing). Preliminary results of real –time PCR detecting capripoxviruses (among which LSD virus) came positive and further testing using an LSD –virus specific real –time PCR finally confirmed the disease (results available on 20 Aug 2015). A preliminary, immediate communication of LSD confirmation was carried out by e-mail on 20 August 2015, once final lab results became available and relevant online notifications in the ANDS and WAHIS (OIE) systems followed the next day. Affected holdings These are both beef cattle holdings of free-ranging animals , within a short distance from the Evros river (cumulative info figures in Table 1 below) and approximately 5 km from one another. Age of infection was estimated around 10-15 days maximum (no ulcerated nodules) almost identical in both holdings. Table 1: Confirmed LSD outbreaks in the Evros Prefecture

Outbreak ANDS no

Cattle

Morbidity Mortality

Distance from the Evros river (borders with

Turkey)

Distance from the closest confirmed LSD outbreak in

Turkey as reported through the ADNS system 2

Susceptible Affected Dead

2015/1 99 10 0 10,1 % 0 % < 0,5 km Appr. 15 km

2015/2 98 4 0 4,08 % 0 % 4 km Appr. 15 km

Totals 197 14 0 7,1% 0 %

Both holdings have been scheduled for stamping out on 21 August 2015 (operation in progress). Epidemiological investigation is still underway and details will follow as soon as it has been completed. MEASURES ADOPTED Establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the LSD outbreaks

1 a protected area and an important wetland at national and international level, hosting a wide

variety of aquatic organisms and breeding populations of rare birds.

2 this is outbreak 2015/87 , confirmed on 13/5/2015 in Turkey (Edirne District), about 7-8 km from

the borders with Greece (date of report : 17/6/2015)

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(In the description that follows these have practically been merged into a uniform protection zone and a uniform surveillance zone covering both outbreaks). Delineation of the protection zone This was carried out using the following criteria:

Fulfilment of the minimum requirements of Dir. 92/119/EC (a minimum 3 km radius around the affected holdings

Inclusion of the entire Evros Delta which, from an epidemiological point of view constitutes a distinct area, with unique physical features, and specific, almost uniform husbandry practices (almost exclusively free ranging beef cattle, kept there from late spring to early autumn).

Use of the national road connecting Alexandroupoli – Kipoi as a natural border for easier clearer definition of the zone (northen border except where the 3-km area around outbreak 2015/2 crosses it (see Map 1).

The protection zone includes the entire Evros Delta plus the area between the Evros Delta and the Alexandroupoli-Kipi national road from the point opposite the Apalo village to the point opposite the town of Ferres. Delineation of surveillance zone Bearing in mind previous experience in the area with other capripoxviruses (Sheep Pox), as well as the epidemiological specifics of Lumpy Skin Disease (transmission by vectors) it was decided to expand the surveillance zone to a 20 km radius instead of the 10 km minimum requirements of Dir. 92/119/EC. In addition , surveillance zone was expanded locally , on purpose to include selected villages settlements with a distinct cattle population , at risk for LSD , due to the recent epidemiological events . Cummulatively, the surveillance zone includes the towns/villages of : Poros , Peplos, Ferres, Vrysoula, Ardanio, Monastiraki, Anthia, Loutros, Apalos. Doriskos, Kavissos, Agnantia, Aristeino, Amfitriti, Doriko, Aetochori, Pefka, Nipsa, Kila, Melia, Pylaia, Lefkimi, Itea, Trifylli, Thymaria, Tavri, Gemisti, Kipi, Avanta, Nea Chili and the city of Alexandroupolis. Measures adopted within the surveillance and protection zones These are the measures of Dir. 92/119/EC. Measures adopted for the entire Evros Prefecture These follow the measures described in the relevant Commision Implementing Decision concerning certain interim measures against Lumpy Skin Disease in Greece addressed to the Hellenic Republic [ C(2015) 6010 ] to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25 August 2015. Further epidemiological developments At the moment there is at least one additional disease suspicion under investigation, in the direct vicinity of LSD outbreak 2015/2. The outcome of this investigation will be communicated to the European Commission and the MS as soon as it becomes available.

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Future control policy The Greek Authorities are currently giving a very careful consideration to the option of using vaccination against LSD within the Evros regional unit, as part of the national LSD disease control policy. The unfavorable epidemiological situation in the Evros area over recent years (e.g. Sheep Pox over 2013-2014) that had devastating effects for the local farming industry along with the substantially high costs involved with the implementation of stamping out policy in cattle are probably the strongest arguments supporting such a decision. The issue will be examined carefully in close cooperation with the competent Commission services to define all relevant technical details and address the legal aspects of such an option.

MAP 1: Evros Regional unit (red)

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MAP 2: First Lumpy skin Disease Outbreaks in Greece - Protection & Surveillance zones

GREECE TURKEY

BULGARIA

Lumpy Skin Disease outbreaks

Limits of Protection zone

Limits of Surveillance zone

Evros Delta

Evros Prefecture

(North)

Evros Prefecture

(South)

Evros Delta

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MAP 3 : First Lumpy skin Disease Outbreaks in Greece - Protection & Surveillance zones (detail)

GREECE

TURKEY

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MAP 4 : First Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreaks in Greece - Protection & Surveillance zones (details and physical features – parameters)

GREECE

TURKEY

20 km radius around outbreaks

3 km radius around outbreaks

Alexandroupolis – Kipi National road

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MAP 5 : First Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreaks in Greece - Relation to the closest LSD outbreak in neighboring Turkey (ADNS 2015/ 87)

GREECE

TURKEY

ADNS 2015/87 (Turkey)

10 km radius around outbreak