Romania launches major free vaccination campaign to combat small ruminant plague after initial EU approval

Romania is set to vaccinated approximately 1.2 million sheep and goats against small ruminant plague to curb rising outbreaks, backed by European Commission approval for a two-stage campaign focused on high-risk regions.

Romania is preparing a free vaccination campaign against small ruminant plague for about 1.2 million sheep and goats, after the European Commission gave an initial go-ahead for the programme, according to the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority.

The drive is expected to proceed in two stages. The first will target Constanţa and Tulcea, the Black Sea counties where Romania recorded its first confirmed case in July 2024. Veterinarians are to draw up a formal plan, which must then be approved at European level before injections can begin.

Romania will receive 300,000 doses initially, with Brussels handling administrative steps directly with the supplier for a further 900,000 doses. Officials say the total should cover the planned campaign.

The choice of Constanţa and Tulcea reflects the elevated biosecurity risk in the area. The region is a major transit corridor for goods and livestock moving between Ukraine and the Port of Constanţa, and hosts several collection centres for animals intended for export. The Danube also provides a natural geographic barrier, which authorities believe could help limit spread.

The vaccination effort comes after a difficult year for the sector. By 9 August 2024, ANSVSA had reported 56 outbreaks across four counties, affecting more than 232,000 animals, underlining the scale of the epidemic and the pressure on Romania’s livestock trade.