FMD vaccinations expand to 10km zone

Vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continued on Friday in livestock farms to include those within the 10km surveillance zone, as authorities intensified efforts to contain the outbreak that has placed Cyprus under emergency animal health measures.

Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou confirmed that vaccinations of cattle in the three-kilometre protection zone have been completed, while inoculations are now underway in the wider 10-kilometre area.

A total of 23,500 vaccine doses have already been distributed to private veterinarians, with procurement procedures continuing for vaccines covering pigs.

The ministry said sampling and laboratory testing are ongoing, with all results to date remaining negative.

It added that confirmation has also been received from the European Union reference laboratory for FMD, which corroborated the findings of the national veterinary laboratory.

Later on Friday, European Union experts are scheduled to meet organised groups of cattle, sheep and goat farmers to brief them on the vaccination programme and biosecurity measures.

The meeting follows a high-level briefing held on Thursday afternoon at the joint rescue coordination centre’s Zenon headquarters, where Panayiotou and senior veterinary officials updated EU animal health commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on the actions taken to tackle the outbreak.

The vaccination forms part of a national emergency response after veterinary services imposed a strict lockdown on livestock farms nationwide to prevent further spread of the highly contagious virus.

Movement of cloven-hoofed animals, grazing, non-essential visits and most transport to and from farms have been banned, with limited exemptions granted under special permit to protect animal welfare and food supply chains.

Foot-and-mouth disease does not pose a direct risk to humans but has severe economic consequences.

Authorities estimate that up to 170,800 animals will ultimately be vaccinated to create what officials describe as an “immunity wall”.

Veterinary officials have warned that it may take up to six months before the outbreak is fully eradicated, stressing that “from the moment there is a positive result, the unit is considered infected”, regardless of symptoms.

Despite the suspension of Cyprus’ foot-and-mouth disease free status by the World organisation for animal health, the government has sought to reassure markets that halloumi exports will not be affected, as the cheese’s production process neutralises the virus.