The president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association, Dimitris Epaminondas, spoke on Saturday about stabilizing the situation in terms of controlling the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, adding that the observance of biosecurity measures, the vaccinations that have been carried out and the climatic conditions will help stabilize the picture for a period until autumn.
According to Mr. Epaminondas, no new positive case has emerged from the tests carried out so far.
"All the samples taken from Limassol and the last ones from Nicosia were negative and now a pan-Cypriot campaign will be launched in all units, surveillance essentially, to see the antibody effect from the vaccines but also if there is the virus elsewhere, where we had not seen it with the first surveillance we did," he explained in response to a question.
Asked about the course of vaccinations, Mr. Epaminondas said that they continue normally at a pan-Cypriot level, adding that in view of the summer holidays and for livestock farmers, it is expected that vaccinations will be completed, if not by the end of August, by the beginning to mid-September.
Asked if there is an issue of vaccine adequacy, the president of the Veterinary Association replied in the negative, adding that the stocks are sufficient to complete the current vaccination cycle.
He added that the next receipt of vaccines for pigs is expected, when the future needs for additional orders will be reassessed.
Regarding the killings, he said that they were completed in all the units where they had been designated, except for the units that received an exemption, i.e. for fat sheep and red cows.
"At the moment there is a stabilization of the situation," commented Mr. Epaminondas, adding that the weather conditions prevailing during the summer reduce the likelihood of the virus surviving in the environment, and therefore the chances of its transmission.
"Combined with all the other things that are being done, i.e. the observance of biosecurity measures, the vaccinations that have been done, and the climatic conditions, they will definitely help to stabilize the picture for a while and to be ready for autumn," he further noted.
Finally, asked if any organized effort has begun to replenish the animals that were killed, Mr. Epaminondas said that at the moment no such effort has begun, adding that this is an issue handled by the Special Scientific Committee for the reconstruction and upgrading of the livestock sector.
"If we stay at these numbers, some small replenishment from abroad will probably be needed, but it will still be very small, perhaps it will be avoided," he concluded.
