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Cyprus combats foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

Cyprus is addressing a significant foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting approximately 100 farms in the Idalion region, which houses an estimated 100,000 cattle, sheep, and pigs. To manage the crisis, the Veterinary Council has granted temporary practice licenses to four Slovak veterinarians to assist with vaccinations, sampling, and epidemiological investigations. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou announced a €28 million support package for livestock farmers, including 9+1 measures to stabilize the sector. Stavros Malas has been appointed by President Nikos Christodoulides to lead a special committee focused on long-term reconstruction and sector restoration. Authorities are conducting strict checks, including police interventions at non-compliant units, and are calling for coordination with the occupied territories to prevent further spread. Concerns persist regarding the impact on halloumi exports and the potential need for stricter border controls at crossing points, though UN officials maintain that these are sovereign decisions. A separate case of foot-and-mouth disease was also confirmed in the Pelopi area of Lesbos, Greece, on March 17, 2026, prompting immediate movement restrictions for animals and products.

Original Sources

Four Slovak vets arrive to aid culling efforts
Cyprus Mail · 17 March 2026, 13:55
Farmers call for stricter measures over FMD concerns
Cyprus Mail · 17 March 2026, 13:25
Operation in Geri: Cattle of unknown origin found
Sigmalive English · 17 March 2026, 11:29
41 хозяйство на Кипре заражено ящуром
Cyprus Butterfly News · 17 March 2026, 08:43
Foot-and-mouth disease spreads to Nicosia, 41 infected units
Sigmalive English · 16 March 2026, 16:02
Αφθώδης πυρετός
OmegaLive · 16 March 2026, 15:34
Farmers call for FMD measures to be imposed in north
Cyprus Mail · 16 March 2026, 14:38
Two FMD cases found outside containment zone
Cyprus Mail · 16 March 2026, 13:37
Foot-and-mouth, price rises on today’s Cabinet agenda
Sigmalive English · 16 March 2026, 10:07
Cabinet to convene over FMD, price increases
Cyprus Mail · 16 March 2026, 09:45
EU imposes island-wide foot-and-mouth restrictions on Cyprus
Sigmalive English · 16 March 2026, 08:50
Government to stand by FMD-affected farmers
Cyprus Mail · 13 March 2026, 20:18
Várhelyi: All animals must be culled in affected farms
Sigmalive English · 13 March 2026, 14:48
Farmers gather in Aradippou to halt animal culls
Sigmalive English · 11 March 2026, 09:04
Foot-and-mouth cases found in 3 more Dromolaxia units
Sigmalive English · 10 March 2026, 10:52
Λήφθηκαν όλα τα μέτρα
OmegaLive · 9 March 2026, 16:15
Foot-and-mouth cases contained in Larnaca
Sigmalive English · 9 March 2026, 15:20
Foot-and-mouth outbreak spreads to 34 farms
Cyprus Mail · 9 March 2026, 13:19
Nine new FMD cases reported in Larnaca district
Cyprus Mail · 6 March 2026, 18:05
FMD spread beyond 10km zone ‘expected’
Cyprus Mail · 6 March 2026, 12:07