Two cases of foot and mouth disease have been reported outside the Larnaca containment zone, this time in Dhali and Yeri in the Nicosia district, bringing the total number to 41.

The Veterinary Services said two new zones have been created, specifically 3km in Yeri and 10km in Dhali.

Dhali and Yeri are surrounded by hoofed animal farms.

Veterinary Services spokeswoman Soteria Georgiades told a press conference that the case in Yeri was at a cattle farm with 70 cows, and the one in Dhali at a sheep and goat farm with about 1,700 animals.

She explained that the animals were infected due to previous transferring of livestock from neighbouring farms.

Georgiades said all animals from 16 infected units have been culled, while island-wide over 76 per cent of cattle and over 42 per cent of sheep and goats have been vaccinated.

A vaccine for swine has already been ordered and is expected to arrive the latest by early April.