Cyprus Times

Emergency Reinforcement of Veterinary Services with Slovaks for Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Published March 17, 2026, 10:08
Emergency Reinforcement of Veterinary Services with Slovaks for Foot-and-Mouth Disease

The Cyprus Veterinary Council has approved an urgent request for a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine for four officials from the Veterinary Services of Slovakia, in order to strengthen efforts to address the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic. This decision follows the emergence of cases in areas such as Geri and Dali, with the number of cases reaching 41. The Slovak veterinarians will assist in the implementation of vaccinations, the collection of samples and the epidemiological investigation, under the supervision of the Cypriot Veterinary Services. The Council clarifies that this approval relates exclusively to addressing the current epidemic and does not set a precedent for future recruitment of veterinarians for non-urgent matters. This reinforcement is deemed necessary to effectively limit the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which threatens livestock farming and the economy of Cyprus. Raids on farms, such as one in Geri where cows without identification were found, continue to control the disease.