A man in Southern Cyprus has been diagnosed with mad cow disease.

The Turkish Cypriot Veterinary Association and the Veterinary Union issued a written press statement regarding the detection of the variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) in a Turkish Cypriot in Southern Cyprus. The statement emphasizes the need to review hygiene, biosecurity, and public health measures in the animal feed production chain in Northern Cyprus.

Prion diseases include fatal disorders of the nervous system such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), scrapie in sheep and goats, as well as the human variant of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. These diseases are based on structural protein destruction and lead to irreversible brain degeneration. Scrapie is particularly known for its contagiousness and long incubation period, allowing it to spread unnoticed in flocks for years, especially among sheep and goats.

In Southern Cyprus, programs to eradicate and monitor bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie are implemented in accordance with European Union regulations. After slaughter, cattle in risk groups are tested for prions, and certain tissues are banned from entering the food chain. To combat scrapie, genetic resistance testing is carried out, high-risk animals are removed from herds, and biosecurity measures are implemented on farms.

In Northern Cyprus, there is neither a nationwide screening program nor a preventive action plan against these diseases. This poses a risk to the livestock sector and public health.

The precautionary measures to be taken, listed in order of importance as announced by the Veterinary Medical Association, are:

• Closure of unlicensed and uncontrolled slaughterhouses, and bringing existing slaughterhouses into compliance with hygiene standards and legislation.
• Preventing high-risk organs for prion diseases from entering the food chain and ensuring their safe disposal at slaughterhouses.
• Organizing regular surveillance and laboratory testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie.
• Identifying and breeding genetically resistant lines against scrapie in small ruminants and distributing them among producers.
• Increasing the financial and staffing capacity of the veterinary department.

The Veterinary Medical Association stated that the problem of staff and budget shortages in the Department must be addressed. The statement noted that recent outbreaks of diseases such as bluetongue and sheep and goat pox have demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the current structure.

The statement concludes with the following call:

“We call on all authorities, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to take immediate science-based measures. Proper control and monitoring will protect our livestock and ensure the safety of food on the public’s table.”

It was stated that there is no reason for public concern and no need to restrict the consumption of meat and dairy products obtained from registered and veterinary-inspected slaughterhouses. It was stressed that the disease is not transmitted from person to person and that the risk can be controlled by preventing high-risk tissues from entering the food chain.

“It should not be forgotten that early prevention of prion diseases saves lives. This risk can be eliminated through transparent and determined action based on scientific knowledge,” the statement said.