BRAKE ON DOG TRAINING DUE TO FOOT AND MOUTH - VACCINATION OF 135,000 ANIMALS COMPLETED - Filenews 5/3 by Angelos Nikolaou
The strict measures to stop foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus are in full swing, with the Game Service taking drastic decisions to protect livestock farming. At the same time, the Veterinary Services estimate that the vaccination program in the protection zones will be completed within the week.
With a new decree issued by the head of the Game and Fauna Service, Pantelis Hatzigerou, last Tuesday, the areas where the training and exercise of hunting dogs are allowed are immediately modified. The decision was taken in the context of preventive measures against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, as the movement of dogs within livestock areas is considered a high-risk factor.
Specifically, 15 areas nationwide are removed from the list of permitted training sites. The affected areas by province are:
Nicosia: Kato Pyrgos, Potamia – Dali – Lympia, Peristerona – Astromeritis and Denia – Kokkinotrimithia.
Limassol: Pissouri and Polemidia (Kasino Quarry – Vati).
Larnaca: Mari (energy center), Klavdia – Alethriko, Dromolaxia (Strongylies) and Mosfiloti (Vyzakeri).
Paphos: Akoursos – Mavrokolympos and Anadiou.
Famagusta: Frenaros (Camp Area), Avgorou (Agios Kendeas) and Frenaros – Agios Georgios Acheritou.
Of particular importance is the regulation for the Astromeriti – Atsa area (Astromeritis – Koroneia area) in the province of Nicosia. This area was replaced by a new, expanded area, which is now delimited by the Astromeritis traffic lights, extends along the road to Troodos to the location "Paliomandres" in Kato Koutrafa and ends at the boundaries of the Dead Zone.
On the animal health front, the spokesperson of the Veterinary Services, Sotiria Georgiadou, stated that the vaccination process of sheep and goats in the zones of 3 and 10 kilometers of the infected area is expected to be completed by the end of this week. "So far, about 135,000 doses of vaccines have been granted. 35,950 concern cattle, while the rest were allocated for sheep and goats, mainly in units adjacent to pig farms and in the surveillance zones", noted Ms. Georgiadou.
At the same time, the spokeswoman underlined that so far, the recent laboratory samples are negative, which creates cautious optimism. Therefore, 22 livestock farms remain infected and the killing of 16,000 animals is proceeding nationwide. Furthermore, he said that the consumer can consume meat, milk and dairy products without fear, as vaccination does not affect their quality or safety.
Estimates of the market value of animals, feed and milk that are lost continue, so that the procedures to support livestock farmers can proceed.
He added that as part of the strict measures, the Veterinary Services inform and make recommendations to theme parks and gardens that have animal collections. "The main thing is that so far the laboratory results are negative and we are waiting for new ones," he noted.
The authorities remain vigilant, with an open line of communication with experts from the European Union, while the possibility of expanding vaccinations throughout the territory is not excluded, depending on the epidemiological development in the next 21 days.
