Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ veterinary services department said on Saturday that the number of farms infected with foot and mouth disease has risen to 101. New cases were detected in Larnaca and Nicosia districts following the latest round of testing.
New infections identified in Larnaca and Nicosia districts
The veterinary services department said one more incidence was detected at a sheep and goat farm within the bounds of the Dromolaxia and Meneou municipality near Larnaca. It also reported one case at a cattle farm in the Nicosia district village of Yeri and one at a pig farm in the Nicosia district village of Paliometocho.
The findings bring the total number of infected units to 13 cattle farms, 86 sheep and goat farms, and two pig farms.
Culling and vaccination efforts ongoing
The department said the culling of animals in both the Larnaca and Nicosia districts is ongoing, and that vaccination procedures are also underway.
It said 73.5 per cent of cattle, 58.5 per cent of sheep and goats, and 94.7 per cent of pigs have been vaccinated so far.
Reports on pig farms and ongoing investigations
Newspaper Phileleftheros reported that the latest infected pig farm houses around 15,000 pigs and that, by European Union law, all will have to be culled.
Phileleftheros also reported that investigations are underway to determine whether a third pig farm in Paliometocho has also been infected.
The first pig farm at which the disease was detected was home to 4,000 pigs, with veterinary services department director Sotiria Georgiadou having said that “all our efforts will now go to this specific pig farm, to ensure that these pigs are culled as quickly as possible”.
Georgiadou said at the time that the spread of the virus to the pig farms is “not a failure”, and said that the movement of people around the island may have been the root cause of the spread of the infection to Paliometocho.
More than 30,000 animals have already been culled, with veterinary association chairman Demetris Epaminondas having said previously that there is “no less painful alternative” to culling when attempting to stem the spread of the disease.
What impact do you think the ongoing culling and vaccination measures will have on Cyprus’ farming sector?
