Cyprus Times

Government Prioritizes Foot-and-Mouth Disease Containment, Support, While Official Points to Farmers

Published February 24, 2026, 09:06
Government Prioritizes Foot-and-Mouth Disease Containment, Support, While Official Points to Farmers

The government maintains that its priority is to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and support affected livestock farmers, while the Director of Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipi, continues to blame the farmers. A plan for financial and psychological support for those affected has been announced, and the police are taking testimonies while the possibility of criminal or disciplinary sanctions is being considered. The possibility that the infection came from the occupied territories via animal feed is being investigated. The government is facing criticism for its handling of the crisis but stresses the difficulty of isolating the area due to the special circumstances.