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New Outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease - Potential for 16,000 Infected Animals

Published March 1, 2026, 13:43
New Outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease - Potential for 16,000 Infected Animals

New cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been detected in eleven livestock units in Livadia and Oroklini, bringing the total number of infected units to 22. According to Senior Veterinary Officer Sotiria Georgiou, the number of infected animals has increased significantly, reaching 15,000, with the potential to reach 16,000 due to births. The distribution of the 529,000 doses of vaccine that arrived from France to private veterinarians has begun for the start of animal vaccination. 27,000 doses have already been delivered for the vaccination of goat and sheep units within a two-kilometer radius of pig farms. The Veterinary Services continue the culling of infected animals, sampling, and vaccinations. Culling has been completed in the first two goat and sheep units in Oroklini, with teams working in Aradippou. Ms. Georgiou stressed the importance of livestock farmers complying with biosecurity measures and called for cooperation to limit the spread of the disease. The Government has mobilized over 500 people to deal with the crisis, with the 'Zenon' Coordination Center in Larnaca as the central control point.