Nicosia: No new cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) were reported, Sotiria Georgiadou, Senior Veterinary Officer and Spokesperson for the Veterinary Services, said on Friday. She described the situation as critical but currently manageable, adding that Cyprus has now lost its disease-free status for exports, while explaining that 'we are at a stand-still situation'.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Georgiadou stated that 'for the time being, no new cases have been recorded in the affected area despite ongoing epidemiological investigations. Vaccination of cattle within the three-kilometre zone has been completed, while vaccinations are continuing within the 10-kilometre zone for bovine livestock, and steps have been taken to order vaccines for pigs.'
She added that 'the vaccination plan has been implemented and will be reassessed in two weeks. A large shipment of vaccines (529,000 doses) from the European Commission is expected to arrive tomorrow morning.'
Regarding the vaccinations, she said that 'they were completed on Thursday evening for animals within the three-kilometre zone. Some 10,000 cattle were vaccinated in a single day, a further 13,500 doses were distributed to veterinarians last night, and a total of 60,000 vaccine doses have been made available.'
Asked about the safety zone, she said that 'the protection zone covering the entire Republic of Cyprus has already been revised, as the country has lost its disease-free export status due to foot-and-mouth disease. Halloumi exports have been secured, any additional products that face restrictions will be negotiated accordingly.'
Georgiadou noted that vaccination plans currently apply only to Larnaca district and that the situation will be reassessed afterward.
She further said that movement of animals, feed and people is prohibited, especially within the 3km and 10km zones and farmers have already been informed.
She also stated that the culling of animals is continuing.