Cyprus Times

Foot-and-Mouth Disease: 529,000 Vaccines Arrive by Saturday - Varhelyi Assures Cyprus is Not Alone

Published February 26, 2026, 17:07
Foot-and-Mouth Disease: 529,000 Vaccines Arrive by Saturday - Varhelyi Assures Cyprus is Not Alone

Up to 529,000 vaccines are expected to be delivered to Cyprus by Saturday to address the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou, stated that close cooperation with the Commission and experts is crucial for effective crisis management, with vaccinations having commenced within a 3-kilometer radius of the disease outbreaks and gradually expanding. Today, 50,000 additional vaccines were received, completing a total of 60,000 doses sourced from the European Union and channeled through the Republic of Cyprus to the occupied territories. EU Health Commissioner Varhelyi visited the Zenon Coordination Center for Research and Rescue and assured that Cyprus is not alone in tackling the crisis, emphasizing the importance of adherence to protocols and expressing the EU's support throughout the process. He acknowledged the good work being done and expressed sympathy for the affected livestock farmers. Mr. Varhelyi stressed the criticality of the first two weeks and the need to strictly follow the guidelines, hoping for an improvement in the situation after this period. The EU will continue to support crisis management, as foot-and-mouth disease is a difficult virus that requires coordinated efforts to limit its spread. The highlighting of close cooperation with the EU and the securing of the vaccine demonstrates the effectiveness of the government's policy in protecting livestock.