A surge in sheeppox cases has raised alarm among livestock farmers in Greece, prompting some to adopt desperate measures to protect their flocks. Local media reports indicate that an increasing number of farmers are turning to black-market vaccines imported from Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt.

Sold for approximately €3.50 ($4,06) per animal, these products are not authorized for use within the European Union. Greek authorities are urging farmers to avoid black-market vaccines and to work closely with official veterinary services.

According to a scientific committee appointed by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development, the vaccine must trigger immunity in at least 90% of animals to effectively protect livestock and help eradicate the disease. Current vaccines provide only 50-60% immunity, leaving half the animals unprotected.

Ideally, the vaccine should be a DIVA type, distinguishable from the natural virus, but available vaccines are not. This means if a herd shows symptoms, it's impossible to tell whether it's from vaccination or infection, and culling may still be required.

Many major markets for Greek dairy products such as feta cheese, including Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and the UK, prohibit imports from vaccinated countries. Unpredictable reactions in some European countries could also impact exports.

At the same time, European Commission officials have emphasized that the EU executive believes vaccination should have already begun in Greece. The issue was previously raised during a meeting between Greek Minister of Rural Development Kostas Tsiaras and EU Commissioner responsible for Animal Health and Welfare Oliver Varhelyi in Brussels. The Commission has publicly stated that a vaccination campaign is necessary to prevent further escalation and confirmed that it is ready to support Greece with all available resources.

Greek authorities, however, have requested EU support primarily in terms of scientific guidance for the use of these vaccines, noting that other European countries with sheeppox cases, such as Bulgaria and Romania, have not implemented vaccination programs. EU officials confirmed that the vaccines are EU-approved and offered nearly 400,000 doses to Greece, along with potential financial assistance if additional supplies are required. Technical-level consultations between the EU and Greek authorities are ongoing, and recommendations for Greece to proceed with vaccination have been issued for some time to contain the outbreak.

Veterinary experts warn that unregulated black-market vaccines can cause harmful side effects and also make disease monitoring nearly impossible, as it becomes difficult to distinguish between natural infections and vaccine-induced immunity.

Konstantinos Milios, president of the Panhellenic Association of Veterinarians, said, "Some are exploiting the fear of farmers. People are anxious about losing their herds and livelihoods, and some opportunists are taking advantage of that."

Milios emphasized that vaccination alone is not a complete solution. Strict biosecurity measures, hygiene protocols, and cooperation with veterinary services remain critical.

Spyros Kritas, professor of veterinary medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, stressed the legal and scientific risks associated with these vaccines.

"For a vaccine to be authorized, there must be proper testing and evaluation. Handling the virus or developing vaccines without permission is prohibited, even for scientists," he said.

Many of the black-market vaccines originate from regions where sheeppox is still endemic. While farmers in those areas may accept lower productivity, using such products in Greece is both unsafe and illegal.

Kritas warned that anyone caught using or distributing unlicensed vaccines could face prosecution and imprisonment, underlining the seriousness of the issue.