Cyprus’s Veterinary Services are moving to force sampling at farms that refused testing in recent days, as authorities press ahead with foot-and-mouth disease controls despite resistance from some farmers in Geri, according to information obtained by Phileleftheros.
Veterinary Services spokesperson Soteria Georgiadou said epidemiological investigations are required across all districts — both within the 3km and 10km surveillance zones and across the rest of the country — with tracing running back to early January to identify possible animal movements before the first confirmed case in February. Sampling, she confirmed, is now proceeding without obstruction.
Culling has been completed at the infected cattle unit in Geri. In Dali, trenches are being dug for planned culling operations, while work is continuing in Dromolaxia and Oroklini despite minor delays caused by weather.
A second round of vaccinations is scheduled for the end of March, with vaccines for pigs expected between late March and early April.
Georgiadou pushed back against farmer claims of false test results, explaining that two separate tests are used: a rapid test detects antibodies, while a subsequent PCR test detects both antibodies and the presence of the virus.
A unit is considered positive if either result is positive. She added that the tests do not pick up antibodies from vaccinated animals, allowing authorities to distinguish between healthy vaccinated animals and those that are sick.
Farmers who obstruct or fail to comply with testing face administrative fines under animal health legislation, Georgiadou warned.
Read more: