Mass Livestock Vaccination to Begin in Cyprus Following Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak

Authorities in the Republic of Cyprus have announced plans to vaccinate thousands of goats, sheep, pigs, and cows to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The disease threatens halloumi exports and has already led to the mandatory culling of at least 13,000 animals.

Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou stated that European Union experts have arrived in the country to oversee the first phase of vaccination. This will be conducted on farms within a three-kilometer radius of the outbreak's epicenter.

Currently, the disease has been confirmed on 11 farms across four communities near the island's southern coast. Enhanced measures have been introduced in the restricted zone: vehicles are disinfected at entry points to prevent the virus from spreading.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral illness that causes fever and blister-like sores in the mouth, sharply reducing milk production and weakening animals.

"Strict adherence to biosecurity measures is a key tool for containing the virus," Panayiotou emphasized. Private veterinarians have also been recruited for the vaccination effort.

The first batch of 10,000 vaccine doses, transferred from the northern part of the island, will be used in the initial stage. A shipment of over half a million doses from European manufacturers is also expected.