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Foot-and-Mouth Disease: All Animals in Infected Herds to be Culled

Published March 5, 2026, 17:11
Foot-and-Mouth Disease: All Animals in Infected Herds to be Culled

Animal vaccinations for foot-and-mouth disease are being proactively extended to all provinces, while with the detection of a new case in a cattle unit in Dromolaxia, the surveillance radius of 10 kilometers is being extended. The General Directorate of Health of the Commission insists on the total culling of herds where cases are detected, with no alternative solution. The Veterinary Services held a teleconference with the European Commission, presenting the situation in Cyprus and requesting their opinion on the possibility of an exception and culling only animals positive for the virus. However, the answer was negative, as European legislation provides for total culling. The new outbreak in Dromolaxia was expected, but is limited to the province of Larnaca. The authorities call on the public and livestock farmers to avoid unnecessary movements, especially in the infected area, to limit the spread of the virus. The difference in handling the issue in the occupied territories is highlighted, where the slaughter of animals was not required despite the sending of vaccines from the EU.