ATHENS, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Greece is to implement a series of measures to contain the spread of the sheep and goat pox after an outbreak of the disease in several parts of the country, the Greek Agricultural Development and Food Ministry announced on Tuesday.

A total of 17,500 animals have already been culled after the confirmation of cases in 104 farms across the country this autumn, according to a press release by the ministry.

A nationwide ban on the transportation of goats and sheep for any reasons for 10 days as a preventive step has been introduced, as experts were trying to locate the origin of the contagious and deadly viral disease for animals, the ministry said.

Slaughterhouses will remain closed for 10 days, and experts will be conducting tests in surveillance zones around farms where positive cases were identified.

"The measures are necessary to address the issue, as in the case of the small-ruminants plague (PPR) we faced this summer," Greek Agricultural Development and Food Minister Kostas Tsiaras said.

The ministry supports animal breeders affected with 150 to 500 euros (about 162.5 to 540.16 U.S. dollars) for each animal killed. Enditem

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