Nicosia, Cyprus. No positive cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been detected in ongoing testing within restriction zones, particularly around Pachna, members of the epidemiological team said on Friday after a meeting with the Veterinary Services. Vaccinations are set to resume next week.
Testing progress
Team member and Tepak professor Demetris Tsaltas said only a small number of farms remained to be tested.
“There are still a few farms pending in Pachna and we hope the results there will also be negative,” he said.
According to Tsaltas, 830 livestock units across Cyprus have so far been inspected, excluding the remaining pending tests in the Pachna area.
In Paphos, all second-round tests have returned negative results, while similar testing is due to continue within the 10-kilometre restriction zone in Limassol.
Over the past week, 31 livestock units have been tested, with results from 25 already returned.
Culling figures
Tsaltas said approximately 2,293 cattle, or 3.5 per cent of the national herd, have been culled since the outbreak began.
A further 43,411 sheep and goats, representing 9.5 per cent of the total population, and 23,242 pigs, or 7.7 per cent of the national herd, have also been culled.
Support from authorities
Tsaltas praised the contribution of the police and National Guard in managing the outbreak.
“The assistance offered by the police and National Guard has been very, very important,” he said.
