The local community of Vrontou in Northern Greece is in mourning after a 53-year-old livestock farmer took his own life following the loss of his entire livelihood. Approximately twenty-five days ago, the farmer was forced to cull one thousand animals—four hundred sheep and six hundred lambs—due to an outbreak of sheep pox.
Speaking to newsit.gr, the victim’s brother, who discovered him, described the devastating impact of the cull.
The livestock farmer was “deeply distressed”
“My brother was deeply distressed from the day his animals were killed. He spent every hour of his life with them; they were his world,” he said. Despite having coffee together that morning, there were no signs that he was about to take such a drastic step. No suicide note was found.
Local authorities have ruled out foul play and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The loss of a life’s work to disease is being cited as the primary factor behind the tragedy.
Sheep pox outbreak in Greece
The sheep pox outbreak has been one of the most severe veterinary crises in Greece’s history. It has forced the government to take unprecedented measures that have reshaped the agricultural sector.
The outbreak reached a critical point in 2025, spreading from Thrace and Macedonia down into Central Greece and the Peloponnese. Over 100,000 animals were culled nationwide to prevent a total collapse of the livestock industry.
At the peak of the crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture imposed a total ban on the movement of sheep and goats across the entire country. This meant no animals could move from farm to pasture or to slaughterhouses for weeks at a time.
Related: Greece Ramps Up Measures as Sheep Pox Outbreak Threatens Livestock
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