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Agriculture Department Issues Recommendations for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Prevention

Published February 22, 2026, 14:10
Agriculture Department Issues Recommendations for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Prevention

The Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment has issued recommendations to local authorities to take preventive biosecurity measures in all livestock areas, following the detection of foot-and-mouth disease cases. This move follows the successful implementation of similar measures in the Municipality of Aradippou, where wheel washes are being constructed for vehicle disinfection. The recommendations include the installation of two disinfection points (wheel washes or automated systems) in each livestock area, one at the entrance and one at the exit. In cases of multiple entrances, these should be closed and access should only be allowed through the disinfection points. The Department of Agriculture has already sent specifications for the construction of the wheel washes to local authorities, while the construction cost will be covered by the Ministry. In addition, the District Administrations of Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos have been informed to take similar measures in their respective areas. The aim of these measures is to strengthen the existing biosecurity protocols that livestock farmers are obliged to follow, in order to limit the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and protect Cyprus's livestock farming.