Dispute over foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Cyprus

Agriculture official Huseyin Chavus, representing the northern part of Cyprus, has claimed that the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak originated in the southern Republic of Cyprus. Chavus asserted that measures to prevent the disease were implemented in northern ports starting in May 2025. Following the detection of the first cases, vaccination programs and disease control protocols were reportedly activated within 48 hours. On December 13, nine calves testing positive for the virus were identified in the Famagusta region, with authorities in the north alleging these animals were smuggled from the south. Chavus accused the Republic of Cyprus of failing to report the presence of the disease earlier for political and economic reasons. Conversely, the Republic of Cyprus has accused the northern administration of mismanagement regarding the outbreak. Both sides claim to have notified the other and European Union authorities immediately upon detection. The situation remains a point of contention between the two sides, as both blame the other for the spread of the virus.