Contacts with the Turkish Cypriot side on foot-and-mouth disease are continuing, but there is so far no indication of any change in the situation in the occupied areas regarding the management of the crisis, the Greek Cypriot co-chair of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health, Leonidas Fylactou, told CNA.
Fylactou said contacts are held whenever possible and that the two sides are expected to meet again in June, after the Bayram holiday.
Regarding the adoption of EU protocols for managing the crisis, he said there is so far no indication of any shift by the Turkish Cypriot side, which maintains that there are no active cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the occupied areas.
He added that this was the position conveyed at the latest meeting, as well as in previous contacts held since December.
Fylactou noted that meetings will continue within the framework of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health.
Thousands of animals, including cattle and sheep, were affected in several livestock units initially in Larnaca and then in Nicosia district, following a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, first reported on February 20. FMD spread to Limassol in May. This followed an FMD outbreak in the island’s Turkish-occupied areas last December. Authorities proceed with a nationwide vaccination campaign of animals to contain the virus, while EU rules require all animals in the infected areas to be culled, bringing about a series of repercussions in livestock farming and other agricultural economic activities. Halloumi, Cyprus’ top agricultural export product, has been spared. Experts reiterate that FMD is not dangerous to humans.