THEY SEAL THE FARMS FOR FEAR OF FOOT & MOUTH - 13.920 ANIMALS KILLED IN 11 UNITS, A TOTAL OF 110 CASES HAVE BEEN DETECTED - Filenews 27/2 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture are putting the country in a state of emergency mobilization, implementing a strict lockdown on livestock farms throughout Cyprus. The decision, which was published yesterday in the Official Gazette of the Republic, aims to prevent the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease virus, a disease with devastating consequences for livestock and the national economy.
The director of the Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, activating the provisions of the "Animal Health Laws (2001-2023)", imposed immediate bans that drastically limit the operation of production units.
According to the notification, the following are prohibited horizontally throughout the territory:
>> The movement of two-bred animals (cattle, pigs, sheep and goats) to and from farms.
>> The grazing of animals in open spaces.
>> The transport of feed, medicines and equipment, as well as the movement of people to the farms.
>> Visits for recreation, education or any purpose other than the necessary care of animals.
In order not to completely paralyze the supply chain and to ensure the welfare of the animals, the director of the Veterinary Services may issue special permits for specific cases:
>> Transport of animals exclusively to slaughterhouses.
>> Distribution of feed from approved suppliers.
>> Transportation of medicines from approved suppliers.
>> Water transport for the water supply needs of the animals.
Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious and, although it is not a direct threat to humans, can lead to mass killings of animals, dealing a major blow to meat and dairy production.
Despite the temporary decline in the appearance of new cases in the last four days, the Senior Veterinary Officer, Sotiria Georgiadou, warns that "we are still at the beginning", estimating that the complete fight against the disease can take up to six months.
The crisis escalated rapidly between February 19 and 22, when cases were detected in 11 livestock units in the areas of Livadia, Oroklini, Troulloi and Aradippou. In these infected units, the number of animals amounts to 13,920, while the first compensation package for the affected livestock farmers is already estimated at €4.5 million. In the 11 units, a total of 110 animals with foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed. These units are located five in Oroklini, four in Livadia and one each in Aradippou and Troulloi.
An encouraging element is the fact that from February 23 to 26 no new case was detected, neither in the surveillance zone nor in the rest of Cyprus. However, Ms. Georgiadou clarified that the killing of animals in infected units is a one-way street, even for asymptomatic animals, due to the extreme infectivity of the virus. "If we left it free, in a month Cyprus would be full of the virus. We would see a dramatic reduction in milk production that would reach 50%," Ms. Georgiadou stressed.
The onus now falls on creating a "wall of immunity". The plan provides for the vaccination of a total of 170,801 animals. The vaccination of 9,000 cows within the 3 km protection zone has already been completed. In the 10 km zone, a total of 25.613 cattle, 97.021 sheep and goats and 48.167 pigs will be vaccinated.
Today, the veterinarians received 50.000 doses of vaccine from the occupied territories for the vaccination of sheep and goats. This was preceded by the delivery of another 10,000 vaccines which have already been made available to private veterinarians. The large batch of 529,000 doses from the European Union is expected tomorrow morning.
The province of Larnaca is under strict restriction. 21 spraying points and static checkpoints have been installed by the Police, while Ms. Georgiadou sent a strict message for the observance of biosecurity protocols, talking about a "stand still" situation where "no mosquito moves".
At the same time, the possibility of hiding cases from breeders in Oroklini is being investigated, as laboratory tests showed that the virus was there two weeks before it was declared.
Despite the suspension of Cyprus' status as a "foot-and-mouth disease-free" country by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the authorities are reassuring about our national product. Due to the boiling process during its manufacture, which neutralizes the virus, halloumi exports are not expected to be affected, unlike other fresh animal products that face an embargo.
INFESTATION AREA UNITS CASES
19/2 Livadia 260 cows 5 cases
20/2 Oroklini 1.380 sheep 14 cases
20/2 Oroklini 1.940 sheep 12 cases
21/2 Livadia 98 sheep and goats 7 cases
21/2 Livadia 1.076 sheep and goats 7 cases
21/2 Livadia 251 sheep and goats 24 cases
22/2 Oroklini 1.876 sheep 13 cases
22/2 Oroklini 2.144 sheep 15 cases
22/2 Oroklini 989 sheep and goats 13 cases
22/2 Troulloi 939 sheep and goats – cases
22/2 Aradippou 2,972 sheep and goats – cases
