EU delivers 500,000 foot-and-mouth disease vaccines for northern Cyprus

The European Commission delivered 500,000 doses of the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine (SAT1 serotype) to the Republic of Cyprus on Friday, February 13, 2026. Christodoulos Pipis, the Director of Veterinary Services, confirmed that the vaccines were transferred to Nicosia and handed over to the Turkish Cypriot community the same day at the Ledra Palace checkpoint via the Bi-communal Technical Committee on Health. This emergency aid aims to increase immunity in vulnerable animal populations and mitigate the risk of the virus spreading further across the island. While an outbreak was previously identified in three cattle units in Lapithos in the north, laboratory tests have confirmed no cases in the Republic-controlled areas. Pipis noted that communication from the north remains limited, with information restricted to reports from an EU expert team regarding second vaccinations in the affected units. Authorities in the Republic are maintaining surveillance measures along the Green Line to manage potential risks. The Commission intends to monitor the epidemiological situation to evaluate any future needs for additional assistance.