Cyprus Times

Emergency Reinforcement of Veterinary Services with Slovaks

Published March 17, 2026, 10:08
Emergency Reinforcement of Veterinary Services with Slovaks

The Cyprus Veterinary Council has approved an urgent request from the Director of Veterinary Services for a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine for four officials from the Veterinary Services of Slovakia. This reinforcement is being done to address the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus. The Slovak veterinarians will assist in the implementation of vaccinations, the collection of samples and the epidemiological investigation of the disease, under the supervision of the Cypriot Veterinary Services. This approval is considered an emergency and does not set a precedent for future recruitment of veterinarians from abroad for non-urgent matters. This decision comes at a critical time, as the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic threatens livestock farming in Cyprus. The immediate strengthening of the Veterinary Services with specialized personnel is essential to limit the spread of the disease and protect the economy.