Cases of foot-and-mouth disease remain unchanged at 42 as of Wednesday, with sampling, contact tracing and laboratory testing continuing across Cyprus, according to veterinary services spokeswoman Sotiria Georgiadou.
Speaking in Nicosia, Georgiadou said culling operations had taken place at three locations — Livadia, Dromolaxia and Geri — as part of efforts to contain the outbreak.
She added that teams are being deployed to additional units, with the process already under way. Vaccination coverage has reached more than 85% of cattle nationwide and 49.3% among sheep and goats.
Earlier on Wednesday, a newly established advisory committee - set up on the initiative of the Agriculture Minister - met in full to provide scientific guidance to authorities. Georgiadou said the meeting, attended by Stavros Malas in his capacity as head of a special scientific committee appointed by the President, reviewed the overall situation and set timelines and plans to improve coordination.
“The aim is to get ahead of the virus rather than follow behind it,” she said, adding that further laboratory results are expected to guide the next steps. While sample analysis is conducted daily, only positive cases are publicly announced.
Objections to sampling
Georgiadou said there had been no attempts on Wednesday to obstruct culling operations, but some resistance was encountered during sampling.
Some livestock farmers objected to the collection of samples, citing provisions they interpret as requiring a second vaccination before testing. However, she stressed that in infected areas, epidemiological investigation is mandatory in order to determine the extent of the outbreak.
“It is unfounded to prevent us from carrying out sampling,” she said, adding that nationwide checks would be repeated after the second round of vaccinations, in line with protocols.
Testing And restrictions
Clarifying how testing works, Georgiadou said the current tests detect only antibodies النات from natural infection, not from vaccination.
“This means there should be no misunderstanding or fear that a positive result is linked to vaccination and could lead to animals being culled,” she said.
On agricultural activity in restricted zones, she noted that harvesting has been permitted since 12 March, in line with a decree issued by the Agriculture Ministry. However, hay produced within the three and 10-kilometre zones must remain there and be used locally.
She added that compensation will be provided for fodder destroyed in units where animals are culled, while other compensation matters fall under the remit of the Agriculture Ministry.
Ongoing tracing
Georgiadou said she did not have exact figures for animals culled in some areas due to their large numbers, but confirmed that 70 cows had been put down.
By Tuesday, around 1,160 cattle and 15,000 sheep and goats had been culled, with the total number of small livestock now exceeding 16,000 following Wednesday’s operations.
She added that contact tracing efforts extend across the island and cover the period from 1 January, not just from the date the first case was detected.
Wider coordination efforts
Referring to a recent bicommunal veterinary committee meeting, Ms Georgiadou said Turkish Cypriot representatives had been urged to align more closely with EU regulations.
“They said they will consider it, assess the pros and cons, including the economic aspects, and return for further discussion,” she said.
She also dismissed reports from Orounta that calves had been attacked by dogs, clarifying that the animals were already dead and had been collected by the company SIGAN Management in the presence of the local community leader.
Finally, she warned that manure from infected units must not be moved, stressing that any such action would be illegal.