Earlier today, the Veterinary Services engaged in an unexpected race against time and the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease, turning the surrounding area of the GSP stadium into a zone of high health protection.
The occasion was the protest event, held earlier by the livestock farmers, who gathered with their vehicles in the central parking lot of the stadium to express their despair about the situation in the industry. Immediately after the protesters left, special teams of the Veterinary Services flooded the area, embarking on an extensive and meticulous disinfection operation.
The goal of the immediate mobilization was none other than the complete security and preparation of the venue for tonight's cup final, where Apollon Limassol and Paphos FC will face each other.
Disinfection was deemed imperative since thousands of fans from the districts of Limassol and Paphos are expected to flock to the stadium. These two districts are so far considered clean of the disease, which makes their protection of paramount importance to the authorities.
The only exception to the otherwise negative map of the two provinces is so far a specific livestock unit in the community of Pachna, where an outbreak of the virus had been identified. The remaining 119 infected units are located in the provinces of Larnaca and Nicosia. This fact has put the services on alert, in order to prevent any transfer of the viral load from Nicosia to the free zones through the fans, after their return to the two provinces.
The Veterinary Services are taking measures to ensure that the parking lot is delivered completely safe for use before the arrival of the fans.
However, an appeal is made to fans, especially those who maintain or work in livestock farms in the districts of Limassol and Paphos, to be especially careful, to observe the basic rules of hygiene and to avoid direct contact with animals after returning from the stadium, as a precautionary measure.
