Rafaela Dimitriadi
The discovery of the virus in a pig unit is changing the situation and raising new concerns about how foot-and-mouth disease may develop. So far, 84 units have been infected, with 63 in the Larnaca district and 21 in the Nicosia district. Yesterday, five more affected units were identified, and cases were also found in a pig farm with 4,000 pigs in the Palaiometocho area.
“It was not something we expected, the detection of a case in a pig farm, and it was something we were hoping to avoid,” said Petros Kailas, President of the Pancyprian Pig Farmers Association. Speaking to K, Kailas said that after hearing reports in the media, he contacted the owner, who stated that the affected farmer had not yet been officially informed. “His son called the veterinary clinic, but they had not notified him, so he called himself to find out.”
The sample testing to confirm the presence of the virus was initiated by the owner. According to Kailas, the farmer became suspicious after some of his animals died. He then contacted the veterinarians he works with to carry out the necessary tests.
“No measures”
Kailas also stressed that although authorities were aware since last night that the unit had tested positive, no measures had been taken in the area by this morning. “As of this morning, the site had not been sealed off. No measures had been implemented, and anyone could enter.”
As for next steps, he said a full count of the animals will be conducted, and further actions from the relevant authorities are expected. “They are recording everything, and in the coming days the animals will be culled.”
When asked whether there are concerns about further spread, Kailas said there are, especially given that two neighboring units are located next to the infected one.
He also pointed out that pigs are more vulnerable to the disease, explaining that exposure in pigs is significantly higher than it was in sheep and cattle. “This was what we feared, because things could escalate very quickly.”
He added that they remain in constant contact with the responsible minister, Maria Panayiotou.
“Unexpected development”
Dr. Dimitris Epaminondas, a member of the epidemiological unit for the disease and President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association, told K that with such a highly contagious virus, finding cases during inspections is to be expected. “The more we test, the more likely we are to find cases.”
However, he described the detection of the virus in a pig farm as unexpected. “It was one of the scenarios we considered possible, but all indications suggested that pigs had remained unaffected.” He added that this does not change the authorities’ plans.
Regarding symptoms in pigs, Epaminondas explained that they are quite noticeable. “Pigs develop lesions on their feet, starting with lameness, and they may also experience liver issues. The most obvious symptom is lameness.”
Asked about the situation in the occupied areas and communication with Turkish Cypriot veterinarians, he said they are in contact. According to the information they received, vaccination continues there instead of culling, a practice that has been followed since the first cases were detected in those areas.
