A foot-and-mouth outbreak has sparked a quarantine and mass culling in Larnaca, Cyprus. The authorities have taken swift action to contain the spread of the disease, which has been confirmed to be centered in Oroklini, with linked infections in nearby Livadia. Laboratory results have identified two large sheep and goat units in Oroklini as the epicenter of the outbreak, leading to the immediate activation of containment protocols. Veterinary services have reported that the virus had been present in the Oroklini units for at least two weeks before the first confirmed case was detected at a cattle farm in Livadia. All livestock at the affected Livadia unit, totaling around 300 animals, are being culled under prescribed sanitary procedures, with carcasses to be either buried or cremated at designated sites once preparations are completed. All products from the farm, including milk and meat, have been seized. The authorities have emphasized that any additional positive case detected within the three-kilometer protection zone would automatically lead to the culling of all animals at that premises. The veterinary services director, Christodoulos Pipis, has urged livestock farmers and others in the sector to act responsibly, warning that the situation remains critical as efforts continue to contain the outbreak and prevent wider spread. While the disease only affects cloven-hoofed animals and poses no risk to humans, the authorities have implemented strict measures to ensure public safety. If no further cases are detected, restrictive measures could begin to be eased after 21 days.
