Increased veterinary inspections in Cyprus before Easter amid foot-and-mouth disease concerns

Starting Saturday, the Veterinary Services of Cyprus have intensified inspections at slaughterhouses, butcher shops, and retail meat outlets to ensure food safety ahead of the Easter holidays. Senior Veterinary Officer Sotiria Georgiadou confirmed that any identified violations will result in the seizure of products and the imposition of fines. Regarding the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, officials reported that the number of infected units remains at 52. No new cases were confirmed as of Saturday noon, with all recent laboratory test results returning negative. The most recent case was identified on Friday in a facility containing 144 cattle in Geri. Authorities continue to conduct sampling and contact tracing. Furthermore, vaccination programs for cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs remain ongoing across the country.