Two suspected foot-and-mouth disease cases under investigation

Nicosia, Cyprus. Two suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease are under investigation after initial positive test results, pending confirmation, according to Demetris Epaminondas, head of the veterinary association.

The cases concern livestock units in Avgorou and Pentakomo, where no previous cases had been recorded.

Further testing required

Epaminondas said positive tests alone were not sufficient to classify a case as confirmed foot-and-mouth disease.

He said further information was being collected and had yet to be evaluated, while additional tests were required before the incidents could be officially categorised as cases of the disease and further measures taken.

Confirmation criteria

According to Epaminondas, regulations specify characteristics that must be fully met before a case can be confirmed.

“If all the characteristics provided for by the regulation are not present, it cannot be classified as a confirmed case,” he said.

He said the investigation would continue to allow authorities to properly assess the two suspected cases.