Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ Veterinary Services said 4,000 pigs will be culled after the first confirmed case of foot and mouth disease at a pig unit in the Palaiometocho area. The new detection raised concerns about the virus spreading beyond previously affected areas.
First confirmed case at pig unit
Veterinary Services spokeswoman Sotiria Georgiadou told the Cyprus Mail the case is being examined and that authorities are waiting to see how it evolves. She said the animals will be handled in the same way as other breeds have been so far, and that all animals in infected units will be culled.
New detection shifts outbreak picture
The detection of the virus as far as west Nicosia changed the earlier picture that it had been contained within 80 infected sheep and goat units in Larnaca and southern Nicosia, specifically Dali and Geri, as well as 11 cattle units. Until now, sampling, contact tracing and laboratory testing across the rest of Cyprus had indicated the outbreak was largely confined to those areas.
Questions on measures and strategy
President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association Dr Dimitris Epaminondas told the Cyprus Mail that the next issue is whether new measures will be taken and whether the strategy will change.
Roadblocks, disinfection points and isolation
Georgiadou said police were immediately informed to set up roadblocks and disinfection points, adding that the three units are isolated. She said that since the three units are in the same area and belong to the same family, they are now considered epidemiologically as one unit.
Focus on rapid culling and human factor
Georgiadou said efforts will focus on the pig farm to ensure the pigs are culled as quickly as possible, noting that pigs shed the virus much quicker than sheep, goats and cattle. She said the spread of the virus was not a failure and attributed main responsibility to the human factor, citing machinery, clothes, shoes and movements as risk factors, and stressed the importance of standstill measures.
What measures do you expect authorities to take to limit further spread of foot and mouth disease?
