More than 20,000 animals are now expected to be culled due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, following the announcement by the Veterinary Services of nine new positive cases within the three-kilometre zone of the initially infected area. The total number of infected livestock units has reached 32 farms.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, senior Veterinary Services officer Sotiria Georgiadou said that eight of the new cases were identified in Livadia and one in Dromolaxia.
“After the latest laboratory results, we currently have eight additional cases in Livadia and one in Dromolaxia. These were expected. All involve sheep and goat farms and are located within the three-kilometre infected zone,” she said.
She also confirmed that the Veterinary Services are preparing a plan to be submitted at the highest level to the European Commission, proposing alternative solutions aimed at avoiding mass culling, following strong reactions from livestock farmers.
Authorities expect additional cases
Commenting on the new infections, Georgiadou said the development was not unexpected.
“The entire area is now considered a single epidemiological unit due to the proximity of farms and the topography of livestock areas in Cyprus,” she noted.
More than 7,000 animals have already been culled, while authorities aim to contain the virus within Larnaca district.
“We expect to identify additional positive cases in this district. This is normal and the public should not panic. The objective is to reinforce protection in the other districts through vaccination and to contain the outbreak within Larnaca,” she added.
Police investigation into illegal livestock facility
During investigations carried out in recent days, authorities also identified cattle infected with the virus in an illegal livestock facility in Livadia, located within the three-kilometre infected zone and close to the original outbreak.
“The animals are currently being culled,” Georgiadou said.
She added that the incident will be handled at all levels, including a formal complaint to the police and a police investigation.
New vaccination rounds underway
Vaccinations in the initially infected zone are expected to be completed today.
Private veterinarians have already begun vaccinations of livestock within a 10-kilometre radius of the newly confirmed case in a cattle unit in Dromolaxia, which was announced on Thursday.
Around 7,400 vaccine doses have already been distributed. According to Georgiadou, additional doses are currently being provided so that vaccinations can begin immediately in other districts, including Nicosia, the Famagusta district under government control, Paphos and Limassol.
EU legislation and farmers’ concerns
Responding to farmers’ calls for alternatives to mass culling when only individual animals test positive, Georgiadou referred to European legislation and Cyprus’ obligations as an EU member state.
She noted that the Veterinary Services had already received a negative response from the European Commissionregarding such requests.
“If animals are infected and laboratory testing shows antibodies from the virus rather than from vaccination, then the animal and the entire herd must be culled. This is related to the method of transmission and the risk of infecting other animals,” she explained.
She added that unvaccinated animals within the same herd as infected animals are culled, as well as vaccinated animals that show antibodies resulting from natural infection.
“If antibodies are present due to vaccination, then the herd is considered clean and culling does not proceed,” she said.
Request to the European Commission
Georgiadou confirmed that the Veterinary Services are preparing a proposal to be submitted at the highest level to the European Commission, outlining alternative measures that could prevent mass culling.
“We are trying to achieve something beyond the current legislation. If we succeed, that would be positive. If not, we are obliged to implement the law. If we fail to comply, the Republic of Cyprus would face a series of violations and consequences,” she said.
Pig vaccine supply and biosecurity
Regarding vaccines for pigs, which are not yet available in Cyprus, Georgiadou said authorities are still in the process of procuring them.
The Veterinary Services are in contact with a supplier company in Lyon, France, which will provide the vaccines. However, demand across Europe is currently very high, making procurement difficult.
She also stressed the importance of strict biosecurity measures at pig farms and livestock units within infected areas and across the three- and ten-kilometre zones, including adherence to restrictions set out in official decrees and guidance.
President Christodoulides comments on farmers’ request
President Nikos Christodoulides said the government stands by those affected by the outbreak and is working to identify the best possible solutions.
Speaking to journalists while arriving at the offices of the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO), he was asked to comment on a request by farmers for unified management of the outbreak across both the government-controlled and occupied areas of the Republic.
“The government is here to manage all the issues that arise. This is our responsibility, and we are a government that assumes its responsibilities,” he said.
Christodoulides added that he had received and reviewed the letter from agricultural organisations and had already begun examining the proposals it contains.
“I want to clarify that when the Republic of Cyprus became a member of the European Union, the entire territory of the Republic became part of the EU. The application of the acquis communautaire is suspended only in areas not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, namely the occupied areas,” he said.
He added that the government fully understands the challenges faced by those affected.
“The government is here, standing by their side, and together we will find the best solutions both for our country and for all those affected.”