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Cyprus Fights Foot and Mouth at 11 Farms
Cyprus has restricted animal movement after foot and mouth disease was confirmed at 11 farms, but dairy exports remain safe.
Martina Osmak
Director of Marketing
Disease Found in Southern Cyprus
Cyprus has confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease at 11 farms in the Larnaca district. The first case was found on February 20. After checks, veterinary officials discovered more infected farms in the same area.
The government quickly introduced strict controls across the country to stop the disease from spreading further.
This is the first outbreak in the area since 2007.
What Is Foot and Mouth Disease?
Foot and mouth disease is a serious virus that affects farm animals such as:
Cattle
Sheep
Goats
Pigs
It spreads very easily between animals. It can move through:
Direct contact between animals
Contaminated equipment
Vehicles
Animal feed
The disease does not usually infect humans, but it can cause major economic damage because animals cannot be traded or moved freely.
New Restrictions Across the Country
Authorities have taken strong action. The main measures include:
A nationwide ban on moving livestock
Increased farm inspections
Disinfection of vehicles entering and leaving farms
Stronger biosecurity rules for farmers
The affected farms are in Larnaca, close to the dividing line that separates the southern part of the island from the Turkish Cypriot-controlled north. Cases had also been reported in the north in December.
Officials are investigating possible illegal transport of hay from the north to the south, which may have helped spread the virus.
President Calls Situation “Very Difficult”
Nikos Christodoulides said the country is facing a very serious situation. He mentioned that early information suggests possible illegal activities may have played a role, but he did not give more details.
The government says it is working hard to control the outbreak and protect farmers.
No Impact on Dairy Exports
Despite the outbreak, authorities say dairy exports have not been affected.
Cyprus is famous for its Halloumi cheese, one of its most important export products. Officials say production and exports are continuing normally for now.
What Happens Next?
Veterinary teams will continue testing animals and monitoring farms. If the disease spreads, more measures could be introduced.
For now, the focus is clear:
Stop the spread
Protect farmers
Keep exports stable
The coming weeks will be important to see whether the outbreak can be contained quickly.
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