A new incidence of foot and mouth disease was reported on Friday at a cattle farm in Yeri, within the Nicosia containment zone, while tracing and sampling continue.

The Veterinary Services said there were 144 cows on the farm and that the new incidence brings the number of affected farms to 52 – four in Nicosia and the rest in Larnaca.

Biosafety measures are being intensified and messages were sent out to farmers, transporters and abattoirs on Friday urging them to observe protocols, particularly as Easter just ten days away.

Clear instructions have been given to abattoir staff to avoid coming into contact with people working at farms, in order to minimise the danger of the disease spreading further.

In the meantime, the second round of vaccinations has covered 60.8 per cent of cattle and 26.5 per cent of sheep and goats, while for swine 194,700 doses were administered in approximately 24 hours.