Filenews 24 February 2026
A large-scale meeting was held today at the "ZENON" Coordination Center of the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (JCCC), with the participation of the Ministers of Agriculture, Justice and Defense, as well as representatives of all the competent services of the state, with the object of operational coordination and strengthening of measures to deal with foot-and-mouth disease cases.
During the meeting, a detailed briefing was held by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Veterinary Services on the data so far and the actions already underway in the field.
So far, cases have been detected in 11 livestock units in the areas of Troulloi, Oroklini, Livadia and Aradippou, with about 14,000 animals (cattle, pigs, sheep and goats) affected. In implementation of the prescribed protocols, the process of killing and burying the infected animals has already begun, while disinfection systems have been installed in the affected areas and strict biosecurity measures are being implemented.
The competent services act on the basis of the national and European protocols provided for by the current European framework for the management of transmissible zoonoses. At the same time, the arrival of specialists from the European Union is expected within the day to provide technical support and assist in the further management of the situation, including the vaccination process.
In the context of the meeting, it was decided to activate a special national plan to deal with the situation, as well as the operation, on a 24-hour basis, of a Crisis Situation Management Center at the "ZENON" Coordination Center of the KSED. All the services involved will participate in the Center, with the aim of unified operational management, the clear distribution of responsibilities and the continuous coordination of actions, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The coordinating team includes the Veterinary Services, the Police, the Fire Service, the National Guard, the Civil Defence, the Game and Fauna Service, the Department of Public Works, the Health Services for disinfection issues, the Water Development Department, the Department of Environment, the Department of Forests, the Department of Geological Survey, the Larnaca District Administration and the Land Registry Department.
It is recalled that as early as last December, when cases of the disease were detected in the occupied areas, the competent Veterinary Services of the Republic of Cyprus had taken preventive measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease, measures that are still in force.
At the same time, the State assures that it will stand by all those affected, with support measures that will cover the primary sector as a whole and especially the livestock farmers affected by the developments.
Despite the challenges created by the management of the incidents, the exports of Cypriot products continue normally. Especially with regard to milk for halloumi, which is one of the most important export products of the country, no restrictions have been imposed so far that affect export activity.
A key priority is to limit cases within the already affected areas, to strictly regulate movements in livestock zones and to strengthen surveillance, in order to effectively limit the risk of further spread of the disease. The competent services remain in constant operational readiness and continue the actions required for the effective management of the situation, with the aim of quickly containing the incidents and ensuring livestock production and economic stability.
Why the animals were not vaccinated in time
Senior Veterinary Officer Sotiria Georgiadou, asked to comment on why the veterinary services did not proceed with timely vaccination of animals since December when the case occurred in the occupied territories, said that until the appearance of the case in February, the Republic of Cyprus was free of the virus in terms of the provisions of the International Organization for Animal Health. Based on Resolution 19 of the International Organization, she said, "once a country is free, it does not vaccinate".
"When the case appeared on February 20, we informed the International Organization for Animal Health, and immediately on the 22nd of the month, the Veterinary Services contacted the Committee for the vaccines and on February 23, the Minister of Agriculture discussed it so that both the team and the vaccines could start sending them," she said.
She noted that "as the Republic of Cyprus we do not have control over what happens in the occupied territories". You can't apply vaccination when you are a "free state", she said – referring to the absence of the virus – and Cyprus was a free state. "The Republic of Cyprus lost the status of a free state on February 21, 2026," he noted.
She added that they had proceeded to take other measures such as spraying at the roadblocks, informing livestock farmers and taking samples.
In relation to the vaccines, the representative of the Veterinary Services stated that the order for around half a million vaccines has been placed. "We are waiting for the process to proceed and for them to be sent to us" and from then on we will see how we will handle the situation and what decisions will be made, she said.
With information from KYPE
