Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ Veterinary Services said all confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been identified in the Larnaca district, with the disease spreading to 34 farms within the containment zone. Vaccination, inspections and testing are continuing across the island.
Containment zone and vaccination effort
Veterinary Services spokeswoman Soteria Georgiades said inspections, testing and vaccinations were continuing. She said 159,100 vaccine doses for sheep and goats and 79,100 doses for cattle have been allocated.
Arrangements are under way to receive vaccines for swine from Germany later this month.
Biosecurity measures and access restrictions
Georgiades said strict biosecurity measures are in place, stating that only assigned personnel are permitted access to each unit.
Culling operations and methods
Georgiades said culling operations continued on Monday at farms in Dromolaxia. She said nine farms have been affected so far, with 269 cows and 13,890 sheep and goats culled.
She said the culling methods used are those approved by legislation for emergency situations, including the use of captive-bolt devices and euthanasia.
Euthanasia drug supplies
Georgiades said the Veterinary Services had secured all available quantities of euthanasia drugs in Cyprus, including supplies from state reserves and private veterinarians, and that additional quantities had been ordered from abroad.
EU protocols and government contacts
Georgiades said EU protocols were being followed and efforts were under way to ensure the European Union takes Cyprus’ particular circumstances into account.
Earlier on Monday, President Nikos Christodoulides said he would speak later in the day with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, to discuss possible solutions.
On Sunday, Christodoulides said he would stand by farmers impacted by the outbreak in the Larnaca district after meeting stakeholders at the presidential palace.
How do the containment measures affect farmers inside the Larnaca district zone?
