All samples examined so far for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have tested negative, the President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association and member of the epidemiological team on FMD, Dr. Dimitris Epameinondas, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Monday.
He said 121 infected units currently remain, noting that some final samples are still pending from the Limassol district.
Regarding the likelihood of easing measures, Epameinondas said authorities are awaiting the overall picture from sampling results and the completion of vaccinations before discussing potential timelines.
‘The positive element is that surveillance and tracing samples received so far from Limassol and Nicosia have tested negative,’ he said.
‘We will know tomorrow about these final samples. We hope the last samples from the Limassol area will also be negative,’ he added.
‘With the completion of the final samples, surveillance and tracing within a three-kilometre radius will be concluded,’ he said.
He noted that culling operations were completed on Friday and that ‘there are no pending issues.’
On vaccinations, Epameinondas said immunisation will begin today in units in Paphos and Limassol that had not been vaccinated due to vaccine shortages.
‘Vaccines have been received. Vaccinations will begin today with the aim of achieving 100% coverage nationwide,’ he said.
Regarding checks along the Green Line, he said police patrols have begun along the ceasefire line, along with measures at crossing points.
‘The existing measures will be supplemented by additional steps currently being discussed with the army and the police,’ he added.
On next steps and possible easing of restrictions, he said authorities are awaiting the complete sampling results and completion of vaccinations, and are now considering the next phase, including whether and when measures could be eased.
‘To begin discussing easing measures and set timelines, we must first complete vaccinations and have a clear epidemiological picture of Cyprus based on sampling results. These are two key criteria for assessing the next stage,’ he stressed.
Regarding livestock replenishment, he said that given the losses recorded, internal replenishment can be carried out easily and there is no need for imports.
Epameinondas stressed that if the final samples in the Limassol area are also negative, it would be a very positive development.
‘This would mean the positive unit in Pahna was the first outbreak in Limassol and that there were no others, meaning we managed to prevent the spread of the virus within the district,’ he said.
In response to a question on how the virus reached the Pahna unit, he said there are some indications, but the epidemiological report and sampling analysis are still pending, adding that further details would be given later.