The Ministry of Agriculture announced that the culling of 6,650 animals across Cyprus was completed early Saturday morning in order to contain foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Demetris Tsaltas, member of the Epidemiological Team, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the culling in Pachna was completed on Friday, with the exception of fat-tailed sheep, a rare indigenous breed.
Meanwhile, the 500,000 doses of vaccines for ruminant animals will be received on Sunday, the President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association, Dr. Demetris Epaminondas, told CNA.
According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture, a total of approximately 6,650 animals were culled in the districts of Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, with the goal being achieved within two days.
‘To achieve this goal, Veterinary Services officers worked tirelessly, day and night, making superhuman efforts under particularly difficult conditions. Characteristically, in the Larnaca district, work in some units continued until 4 am today,’ the Ministry noted.
The Ministry added that the assistance of the Cyprus Police and the National Guard was decisive and that it allowed the rapid and effective implementation of the operational plan.
‘The cooperation of all those involved is the strongest tool for eradicating the disease, protecting the livestock sector and ensuring the country’s food security,’ the Ministry of Agriculture emphasised.
On his part, Dimitris Tsaltas, a member of the Epidemiological Team, told CNA that the culling in Pachna, Limassol District, was completed on Friday, adding that the fat-tailed sheep were exempted.
He also clarified that the culling of animals that was completed in the early hours of Saturday concerned a unit in Athienou, Larnaca District, explaining that the time delay was due to the affected livestock farmer’s appeal to the Administrative Court requesting that his unit be exempted from the culling. Tsaltas added that the Administrative Court rejected the farmer’s appeal on Friday, paving the way for the culling of animals in the unit.
Vaccines to be received tomorrow
As regards the vaccination process, the President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association, Dr. Demetris Epaminondas, said that the 500,000 doses of vaccines for ruminant animals will be received on Sunday, adding that their customs clearance will take place next Monday or Tuesday.
Epaminondas expressed conviction that the distribution of vaccines in the districts and the vaccination of ruminant animals will begin within the week after next.