Newsroom
The mayor of newly formed Municipality of South Nicosia – Dali (Lefkosia-Idalio) says it may be only a matter of days before foot-and-mouth disease reaches his municipality unless strict preventive measures hold.
Mayor Stavros Hatzigiannis expressed alarm over how close his area is to villages where cases have already been detected. South Nicosia includes four livestock zones, in Lympia, Potamia, Dali and Nisou, with 75 farms and roughly 40,000 animals, including cows, sheep, goats and pigs.
“The distances are very small,” he said, mapping out how communities connect within just a few kilometers of each other. “If we are not extremely careful, I fear it is only a matter of time.”
So far, no cases have been recorded in the municipality. But Hatzigiannis says waiting is not an option.
Over the weekend, he gathered farmers and livestock breeders into a single online coordination group to ensure no one acts alone. The municipality has ordered automated vehicle spraying systems that began installation late Tuesday and are expected to operate at up to 12 to 14 locations. Warning signs are also being placed so vehicles entering livestock areas can stop and be disinfected.
Farmers have been instructed to thoroughly spray anything entering or leaving their premises, and the municipality plans to close side roads and unnecessary access points where possible.
The mayor, however, raised concerns about coordination and responsibility. Of the four livestock zones in South Nicosia, only Lympia falls directly under the Department of Agriculture. The others are under the district governor or municipal authority.
He called on the Agriculture Ministry to take overall responsibility, arguing that this is not the time to split hairs over jurisdiction or cost. According to Hatzigiannis, the department has indicated it will cover preventive costs, such as spraying systems and disinfection tanks, only in the area under its control.
“I made it clear that at this moment we should not be discussing money,” he said. “Our farmers are even willing to pay themselves to speed things up. What matters now is stopping the disease.”
He warned that if an outbreak occurs in zones not directly overseen by the ministry, pressure on the government would be enormous. “It is not possible right now to separate which livestock area belongs to whom,” he said.
As for communication with Veterinary Services, the mayor said there has been none so far. “If a case is found, they will definitely contact us. I sincerely hope that won’t be necessary.”
The stakes are high. The municipality’s farms include about 20,000 cows, 15,000 sheep and goats and 5,000 pigs. Hatzigiannis noted that a single cow can generate €25,000 to €30,000 over its productive lifetime, meaning compensation would barely scratch the surface of the potential losses.
“If this reaches us, the damage will be irreparable,” he said.
In a public message, the mayor urged residents to remain vigilant. “We are all links in a chain. If one breaks, we all suffer.”
He also argued that stronger measures should have been taken earlier along the Green Line to prevent illegal trafficking of animals and food, saying tighter controls could have reduced the risk.
