Four experts from the EU Commission’s veterinary emergency team have arrived in Cyprus to investigate the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in two livestock units in the north, the veterinary services said on Saturday.
“We had a meeting with them just now and discussed the incident. They will visit the north to investigate and review the measures taken by Turkish Cypriots,” veterinary services director Christodoulos Pipis said.
The team arrived at the request of the veterinary service on Friday and is expected to brief authorities on their findings on Sunday. “From there, we will coordinate with the European Commission on how to handle the situation,” Pipis added.
Although the experts will visit the affected sites, Pipis emphasised that they are not acting as inspectors. “They are here to help properly manage the incident,” he said.
Regarding the disease in the Republic, Pipis said livestock farmers have been instructed to adopt stricter biosecurity measures, including cleaning, sanitation and disinfection protocols.
He also addressed rumours suggesting the disease originated in the Republic, stating that this is not the case. Cyprus is recognised as “free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination” by both the EU and the World Organisation for Animal Health, the highest level of recognition for animal health in a country.
According to the Turkish Cypriot veterinarians’ association, the first outbreak was detected on Monday at a farm in the Famagusta district village of Ayios Sergios.
The association confirmed that affected animals were quarantined and vaccinated, the farm and other facilities disinfected and movement restricted.
On Tuesday, Ankara’s Foot and Mouth Research Institute reported four further cases at a livestock unit in Lapithos.
The north’s ‘agriculture minister’, Huseyin Cavus, said the area has since been quarantined, with animal movement prohibited. Approximately 13,000 animals, including cattle, sheep and goats, will be vaccinated to prevent further spread.
No outbreak has been confirmed in the bases or in the south. However, the Bases announced on Friday that precautionary disinfection measures have been implemented at the Pergamos and Strovilia crossing points to reduce potential transmission.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a viral infection that affects cattle, pigs, goats and sheep. Infected animals usually recover but may lose weight and experience reduced milk and meat production.
Although highly contagious among animals, the disease is not harmful to humans.
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