Dozens of farmers blocked the Prastio–Pachna road on Tuesday morning after word spread that Veterinary Services officials were expected to take action at a local priest’s farm, where animals had tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease.
The farmers gathered from early morning with the aim of preventing any intervention by the Veterinary Services. At the same time, however, sources told Philenews that no culling or sampling had been scheduled in the area.
The priest, whose farm is at the centre of the outbreak, told Philenews he had received a call from Veterinary Services the previous afternoon asking whether he would consent to having his animals culled.
“They simply called to ask me that one question,” he said. “I told them that without a new round of sampling, I won’t agree to anything. If the results come back positive again, then fine — but not an immediate cull without new sampling first.”
On the mobilisation itself, the priest said farmers had been told by police that officials from the relevant services were due in the area, and that the owner of an excavator had also been notified to open a pit. No further developments followed, he said.
