Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus has established a coordinating body headed by the director of the veterinary services following a meeting of competent authorities in Nicosia, as police in Larnaca formed an investigative team to probe the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Coordinating body formed after multi-agency meeting
Officials said the coordinating body was created after a broad meeting of all competent authorities at the veterinary services’ headquarters in Nicosia.
The meeting was held on instructions from President Nikos Christodoulides and was attended by the permanent secretary of the agriculture ministry, Andreas Gregoriou, the permanent secretary of the interior ministry Elikkos Elia, and representatives of the national guard, police, fire brigade, game and fauna service, the forestry department and the veterinary services.
Authorities focus on enforcing measures and limiting spread
Speaking after the meeting, Gregoriou said the aim was to ensure the effective implementation of measures to prevent the spread of the disease to other livestock units.
“It was decided to create a coordinating body under the director of the veterinary services, with the participation of all involved departments, to ensure that the measures already in place are properly enforced and to prevent the virus from spreading to any additional livestock units,” he said.
Gregoriou stressed that farmers must strictly apply biosecurity measures within their own premises to safeguard their animals. He described the situation as “very difficult” and said authorities were working together to contain the problem.
European experts expected to arrive
Gregoriou said European experts are expected to arrive in Cyprus, possibly on Tuesday, to assess the situation alongside local veterinary officials and discuss whether additional measures will be required.
Police inquiry and Larnaca investigative team
Asked whether the customs department should also be involved amid suggestions the virus may have originated in the north and been brought to the Republic through contaminated animal feed, Gregoriou said relevant information had been submitted and an investigation had been launched by police.
Larnaca police has set up a special investigative team to examine the outbreak. Police spokesman Spyros Chrysostomou said the team was formed following a meeting at police headquarters.
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