Authorities are investigating the illegal feed trade as an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has emerged in Livadia, raising concerns about the safety of local livestock. The Veterinary Services are actively working to contain the virus within a three-kilometre protection zone established around the affected area.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
As reports suggest that the outbreak may have originated from animal feed smuggled from the northern regions, police are conducting a discreet investigation into the claims of illegal hay trade. The location of the affected farm, situated far from the established buffer zone, has intensified suspicions that unregulated commercial activities played a role in the virus’s entry.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
A total of 23 premises within the protection zone have been placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure. Authorities are growing concerned about reports of suspicious symptoms in animals outside this immediate area. In response, teams from the Veterinary Services have begun epidemiological and clinical investigations at these 23 units to assess biosecurity measures, with daily sampling and inspections scheduled to prevent any further spread.
Under current protocols, these quarantined units will remain under strict monitoring for 21 days unless new cases are identified. The culling of 260 cows at the infected farm is set to begin today, pending guidance from Brussels on whether the carcasses should be buried or incinerated. Initial laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of the virus in five cows from the first samples taken at the site.
In light of the situation, the Veterinary Services have placed all personnel on high alert and informed the EU Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, as well as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Staff leave has been cancelled, and veterinarians from other districts are being redeployed to Larnaca to support tracing and inspections. A wider surveillance zone has also been set up within a 10-kilometre radius of the outbreak to monitor any potential risks.
During an emergency meeting held yesterday, stakeholders discussed and finalised further steps to safeguard the country’s livestock. Officials have reassured the public that foot-and-mouth disease does not pose a risk to human health. They confirmed that dairy products remain safe for consumption, as pasteurisation and strict quality controls ensure that milk, halloumi, and other dairy derivatives pose no threat to consumers.
