Romania launches emergency sheep and goat vaccination campaign

Romania has initiated an emergency vaccination campaign for sheep and goats to combat small ruminant pox. The campaign began ahead of schedule in Constanța and Tulcea counties, utilizing the final tranches of strategic vaccine stocks from the European Union, totaling just over one million doses.

National Sanitary-Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) President Alexandru Bociu has called for cooperation from farmers and veterinarians to complete the process quickly and resume livestock exports. While the vaccination is underway, temporary restrictions on the movement of sheep and goats remain in effect across Romania to prevent further disease spread.

Authorities have noted that the vaccine may cause normal post-vaccination reactions in over 50% of cases, such as temporary fever, swelling at the injection site, or a brief decrease in milk production. Officials advise farmers not to mistake these reactions for the disease itself. Additionally, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has warned farmers against potential manipulation and calls for large-scale protests, stating that most breeder requests have already been addressed.