Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Disinfection of Vehicles at Checkpoints in Cyprus

A veterinary expert team from the European Union is in Cyprus, following a request from the Veterinary Services, to investigate cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the occupied territories.

Christodoulos Pipis, Director of Veterinary Services, stated that the experts visited Lapathos to receive information from Turkish Cypriot veterinarians.

According to reports, the disease affects three cattle farms in the occupied territories, with a total of 850 animals and ten positive samples. Vaccination has been decided in the affected areas.

Mr. Pipis rejected claims by the so-called "Minister of Agriculture" of the occupied territories that the disease originated from the free areas.

The Veterinary Services have tightened biosecurity measures and have started disinfecting vehicles at crossing points from the occupied territories, such as Deryneia, Agios Dometios, Strovilia, Pergamos, Astromeritis, and Zoria.

So far, no cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been recorded in the areas controlled by the Republic.