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Burial operations for animals from a livestock facility affected by foot-and-mouth disease began Saturday in Aradippou, according to the town’s mayor, Christodoulos Partou. The farm, which houses more than 4,000 sheep and goats, will follow disposal procedures set by the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
Partou said vaccination efforts are expected to start imminently, with veterinarians preparing to immunize sheep and goats either today or tomorrow. Farmers and private vets are already working under the official vaccination plan, while local authorities have pledged support wherever needed.
He noted that the situation appears to be stabilizing for now, as no additional positive cases had been recorded up to Friday.
The mayor also highlighted the need to safeguard pig farms in the municipality. Veterinary officials have indicated that pigs require a different vaccine and can amplify the virus in large quantities if infected. For that reason, sheep and goats located near pig units must be vaccinated promptly. Symptoms in small ruminants tend to be milder, he added, making preventive measures for pigs especially important.
Partou also referred to a meeting held Thursday night in Troulloi involving livestock farmers and political representatives, including House Speaker and DISY President Annita Demetriou and MPs from Larnaca district. Farmers from Aradippou, Troulloi, Livadia and Oroklini attended.
One of the key concerns raised was financial compensation for animals that may be culled. Farmers said authorities should take their views into account when the issue is formally discussed.
During the meeting, a farmer from Troulloi reported that his herd of more than 1,000 sheep and goats was initially described as negative, but later tests indicated a positive case. He claimed the Veterinary Services asked for the animals to be culled without providing written confirmation of the positive result.
Despite the challenges, Partou expressed cautious optimism, saying progress is being made but stressing that significant work remains before the outbreak can be fully resolved.
