Larnaca: The Veterinary Services have placed under a 21-day lockdown the livestock farms in a three-kilometer area around a cow breeding farm in Livadia, Larnaca, where they detected the foot-and-mouth disease virus in five cows. In statements following a broad meeting on Friday in the presence of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, Head of Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, said that the 260 animals of the affected unit will be culled.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the origin of the virus from which the animals were infected is being investigated, while checks are also being carried out on the animals of the units located within the containment zone. "A 3-kilometer radius restriction zone has been determined, as well as a surveillance zone, where investigations will be carried out by the Service's personnel," Pipis said.
He added that within the 3-kilometer zone around the affected unit, the movement of animals and animal products without official authorisation is prohibited. Pipis stressed that the foot and mouth disease poses no risk to human health from consuming livestock products and their derivatives. As for how the disease was transmitted to the unit, he stated that there is no evidence yet and that this is something that they are investigating.
Asked about compensation, Pipis said that there is a specific provision under the Emergency Action Plan. Finally, he said that there is coordination with the Directorate-General for Health of the European Commission.