foot and — Authorities have announced that two farming units may have contracted foot and mouth disease (FMD), with confirmation still pending. The suspected locations are Pentakomo in the Limassol district and Avgorou in the Famagusta district. Samples have been collected from the animals on these farms for testing.
Demetris Epaminondas, a member of the epidemiology team addressing the FMD outbreak, remarked, “These are two cases under investigation.” As of now, these units have not been officially classified as infected with FMD.
If these cases are confirmed, they would increase the total number of infected farming units to 123. Moreover, it would mark the first instances of FMD detected in the eastern regions of Limassol and Famagusta districts, raising concerns among local farmers and authorities alike.
The ongoing outbreak has seen significant losses since the first confirmed case on February 20 this year. The latest confirmed case was recorded on June 10. Authorities have reported the culling of 56,632 sheep and goats, which represents approximately 11.5 per cent of the total stock of these animals. Additionally, 24,483 pigs (around 7.8 per cent) and 3,018 cows (about 3.5 per cent) have also been euthanised to control the spread of the disease.
In response to the outbreak, the government has allocated €19.4 million in compensation to livestock farmers for losses incurred from the death of animals, as well as losses related to milk production and animal feed. This financial support aims to alleviate the burden on farmers affected by the disease.
Vaccination efforts are underway, with second-dose coverage reported at 84 per cent for cattle, 78 per cent for sheep, and 41 per cent for pigs by mid-June. These measures are crucial in preventing further spread of FMD within the livestock population.
