Cyprus’s foot-and-mouth outbreak has reached 70 infected units after four new cases were confirmed on Thursday, all involving goat and sheep farms, the Veterinary Services said.
Two of the new cases were found in Dromolaxia-Meneou and two in Geri. The spread remains within already demarcated infected zones, with 59 of the 70 cases in Larnaca district and 11 in Nicosia district. The rising total is causing serious concern within the livestock sector, the Veterinary Services said.
Laboratory tests from all other districts have returned negative, indicating the outbreak remains contained within designated surveillance zones, according to official updates.
The state is continuing compensation payments to affected farmers. Payments for milk destroyed at infected units are ongoing, and compensation for animal feed deemed unfit and destroyed has now begun.
Vaccination in the second phase of the immunisation campaign stands at 65.35% for cattle and 38.75% for goats and sheep. Pig vaccination within infected zones has reached 73% of units.
Authorities are pushing to accelerate vaccination among goats and sheep, where the rate remains lower due to the large number of animals involved and the complexity of the process.
The Veterinary Services renewed their call to livestock farmers to strictly observe hygiene measures and keep movement to the bare minimum.
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