North Macedonia: About 10,000 sheep have died from sheep pox

North Macedonia has confirmed 64 outbreaks of sheep pox, with about 10,000 sheep dead, Agriculture Minister Borče Serafimovski said.

The latest official figures place 50 outbreaks in the country's Eastern region, seven in the Northeast, six in the Vardar region and one in the Skopje region. Authorities are monitoring the situation daily and taking measures to prevent the livestock disease from spreading.

Serafimovski said officials had held a working meeting with authorities in Serbia to exchange information and experience, while they were also closely following the situation in Greece. “For now, the biggest challenge for us remains sheep pox, and we are doing everything we can to ease the impact and prevent the disease from spreading further,” he said.

Authorities are working to secure vaccines through the European Commission, Turkey and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Farmers whose herds were affected will be compensated. Assessments and preparations for funding are under way, and the Food and Veterinary Agency has already established the compensation model.

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For now, the biggest challenge for us remains sheep pox, and we are doing everything we can to ease the impact and prevent the disease from spreading further.