Nicosia: Vaccinations of all sheep and goats within the 3- and 10-kilometer zones of the infected area are expected to be completed within the week, stated Sotiria Georgiadou, spokesperson for the Veterinary Services concerning the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, on Wednesday. She noted a stable situation regarding the population of animals that have been culled and reassured consumers about the safety of consuming animal products.
According to Cyprus News Agency, vaccinations of sheep and goats in the surveillance zone are ongoing, with a further 9,800 doses distributed to private veterinarians as of yesterday evening. Georgiadou reported that approximately 135,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed to date. Of these, 35,950 doses are for cattle within a 3 and 10 km radius, while the remaining 99,100 doses have been utilized for sheep and goats within 2 km of pig farms. The rest are earmarked for vaccinating all sheep and goats in the 3- and 10-km zones, with completion expected within the week.
Georgiadou also mentioned that assessments of animals, market value, feed, milk, and culls on infected premises are ongoing. As part of the restrictive measures, a decree was published in the official gazette by the Director of Hunting and Wildlife, prohibiting the training of hunting dogs within livestock areas. The Veterinary Services are also advising theme parks and gardens with animal collections. Importantly, Georgiadou highlighted that all laboratory results have been negative thus far, with more expected soon.
In response to queries regarding European Union assistance, Georgiadou noted that the Republic has received help in the form of expert dispatches, facilitating open communication, information exchange, and vaccine supply. She confirmed that the vaccines currently available are sufficient for sheep, goats, and cattle, with any future needs to be assessed based on the evolving situation.
Addressing concerns about the impact of these measures on the market supply of animal products, Georgiadou assured that the culls represent a small percentage of the total animal population. She emphasized that the vaccine does not affect the safety of meat, milk, or dairy products. "Consumers can safely consume these products," she concluded.