11.8.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 211/55 COMMISSION DECISION of 10 August 1999 on a financial contribution of the Community to the eradication of bluetongue in Greece in case of a new incursion of the disease (notified under document number C(1999) 2622) (Only the Greek text is authentic) (1999/559/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (99 Whereas for the ovine and caprine species, this elimina- Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EC (') pertaining to certain expenditure in the veterinary field, as last amended by Decision 94/370/EC (3), and in particular its Article 6, (1)  Whereas bluetongue outbreaks were recorded between the end of October and the beginning of December 1998 on the Rhodes, Kos and Leros islands, in the prefecture of the Dodecanese and in the prefecture of Samos; (2)  Whereas these outbreaks were due to wind-borne infected vectors from abroad; (3)  Whereas emergency measures were taken by the Greek authorities and the financial contribution of the Community in the cost of these measures was fixed by Decision 99/221/EC (*), of 9 March 1999; (4)  Whereas the precautionary measures concerning the movement of live animals of susceptible species and some products thereof in the regions concerned have been laid down in Decision 1999/293/EC (*) of 29 April 1999; (5)  Whereas the last clinical cases of bluetongue were recorded at the beginning of December 1998; (6)  Whereas it is advisable to establish a warning system in order to demonstrate at the earliest possible moment any new development of the virus coming from abroad; (7)  Whereas in case of reappearance of the disease it is necessary to take emergency measures to prevent its further spread by eliminating the source of the virus; (8)  Whereas for the bovine species, this elimination should be achieved by the destruction of the sentinel animals which have seroconverted and the seronegative animals being held on the same holding; 4, 18.8.1990, p. 19. 8, 2.7.1994, p. 31. , 26.3.1999, p. 44. 4, 1.5.1999, p. 55. — N QNN tion should be achieved by the destruction of flocks where evidence of the disease has been proved; (10)  Whereas these stamping out measures are not adapted to an epidemic situation and should be reconsidered if such situation arises; (11)  Whereas ten outbreaks on the same island should be considered as an epidemic situation; (12)  Whereas it is advisable to continue the operations intended to reduce the vector populations by concen- trating these actions on the sites particularly favourable to the reproduction of the vectors; (13)  Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in conformity with the opinion of the Standing Veter- inary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Greece shall establish, with effect from 1 July 1999, groups of sentinel bovine animals in the localities most exposed to the risk of a new incursion of the disease. These groups will be set up as follows: — 10 groups of five animals in Rhodes and in Kos; — five groups of five animals in Samos; — two groups of five animals in Leros. Greece shall communicate to the Commission before 1 August 1999 a map of the regions concerned indicating the selected locations. Sentinel animals shall be serologically tested every fifteen days and any seroconversion shall be immediately notified to the Commission and the Member States. Article 2 Greece shall ensure the destruction of: — all sentinel bovines which have seroconverted and all sero- negative bovines in the same holding or holdings, — all sheep in flocks with any evidence of bluetongue.