The epidemiological whirlwind of foot-and-mouth disease continues to spread menacingly. According to information from "F", three new cases were detected in sheep and goat units in the province of Nicosia, a development which raises the dramatic tally of infected units nationwide to 120.
This new deterioration triggers rapid developments at the government level, with the President of the Republic announcing his personal involvement, at a time when the livestock world is revolting and moving its dynamic measures outside the gates of the Presidential Palace.
In the face of the explosive situation, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, intervened dynamically yesterday afternoon from Limassol, announcing that he is personally taking over the matter. The President stated that he is ready to meet with the agricultural organizations, the "Voice of Livestock Breeders" and any other affected person who wishes, but at the same time sending strict messages to all directions about the need for strict compliance with the health rules.
"I will personally take on the issue, I will speak myself so that those directly concerned and those directly affected know, so that we can also speak publicly about this issue," he said, while announcing that the issue of the new sample checks requested by livestock farmers was also discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Council of Ministers. The President noted that the Veterinary Services, on the basis of international protocols, consider that second checks are not required.
Responding to the criticisms of livestock farmers about inadequate biosecurity measures on the part of the authorities, Mr. Christodoulidis defended the Veterinary Services and rejected the allegations of misunderstanding with the Ministry of Agriculture. On the contrary, he turned his arrows on those who violated the measures, citing the outbreak in Limassol as an example: "Do you remember when foot-and-mouth disease stopped and where it was found in Limassol. Something happened to bring him to Pachna. It means that there was no co-operation, it means that some people did not follow what they should have followed." He wondered, in fact, how it is possible that the state services are responsible for the fact that the virus was transferred from Larnaca to Pachna.
"Or we will all work together to follow what needs to follow, otherwise we will not be able to face this challenge. If we do not cooperate, in the end we will all be losers," the President warned.
The X-ray of the 120 infected units
The distribution of affected farms reflects the magnitude of the health threat, while also highlighting serious compliance gaps.
There are 103 sheep and goat units in total and are the main victim of the outbreak. Most of them are located in Larnaca, 73 units, of which one is illegal, followed by Nicosia with 29 units, while one unit is recorded in Limassol.
As far as cattle units are concerned, their number amounts to 14 in total. 9 units are located in Larnaca and 5 in Nicosia, with one of them operating illegally.
Infected pig farms remain at 3 in total and all are located in western Nicosia.
Of the total of 120 units, 80 are classified as normal, 31 are very small (less than 50 animals), 4 are zoo-commercial (one fattening), while 3 pig farms and 2 illegal units (cattle and sheep) are included.
The data on the number of animals that have been sick, killed or are being led to be killed are shocking, irreparably affecting domestic livestock farming. The total number of cases amounts to 78,060 animals (50,526 sheep and goats, 24,483 pigs and 3,051 cows).
So far, 43,156 sheep and goats have been slaughtered (corresponding to 11% of the total population of adult sheep and goats), 24,483 pigs (about 8% of the total population and 3,018 cattle, 4% of the total population).
The authorities have already started the second cycle of epidemiological investigation in the provinces of Limassol, Paphos and Famagusta. It is noted that during the first cycle these provinces had presented only negative results. During the second cycle, one case was detected in Pachna, Limassol on May 14, in a breeding of 62 sheep and goats.
At the same time, all District Veterinary Offices have received instructions for taking samples from animal collection farms for slaughter, as well as from sheep, goat and cattle fattening units. The specific sampling is expected to be completed within the next week.
Critical review of the measures
In the face of the negative turn of the disease, the Minister of Agriculture is holding a critical meeting today with the leadership of the Veterinary Services. The focus is on a thorough review of the course of foot-and-mouth disease and a rigorous assessment of existing containment measures.
The Veterinary Services are invited to present clear scientific data on the geographical dispersion, while the course of the second cycle of epidemiological investigation in Limassol, Paphos and Famagusta is being examined. At the same time, the vaccination program is being evaluated.
The anger of livestock breeders is transferred to the Presidential Palace - Big protest on Friday
After coordinated consultations, a group of indignant breeders made the final decision to hold a dynamic protest event tomorrow, Friday, outside the Presidential Palace.
The breeders say that they have "reached the end" and denounce the practices of the Veterinary Services, calling for an immediate end to the mass killings of healthy or asymptomatic animals and demanding credibility in laboratory tests, on the occasion of the recent events in Pachna.
Despite yesterday's statements by the President blaming the transmission of the virus, livestock farmers insist on their own claims of mishandling and demand the immediate suspension of mass killings. They also say that their descent to the capital will be massive and they will not leave unless they ensure radical changes in the management of the crisis.
Common front of the agricultural movement
At the same time, the crisis is taking on universal dimensions for the agricultural economy. Five organizations of the organized agricultural movement (PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, New Agricultural Movement, Euroagrotikos), recognizing the impasse, sent an urgent request for a meeting with President Christodoulidis. The agricultural movement calls for the immediate and catalytic intervention of the President, in order to formulate an emergency plan of generous financial support and to prevent the complete annihilation of domestic production and our national product, halloumi.
