Newsroom
Suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease in animals have sparked concern among authorities in the occupied areas, prompting an emergency meeting and immediate containment measures, according to reports in the Turkish Cypriot press.
Local media reported that suspicious cases were detected in Lapithos, in the occupied Famagusta district, after the unexplained deaths of animals at a livestock unit raised red flags. Tests carried out at the facility reportedly found symptoms consistent with foot-and-mouth disease in around 70 large animals. Samples have been sent to Turkey for further analysis and confirmation.
The newspaper Halkin Sesi said the findings caused alarm among “relevant services,” given the highly contagious nature of the disease and the risk it poses to livestock.
Meanwhile, Bagimsiz reported that an emergency meeting was held at the so-called “ministry of agriculture,” chaired by Hussein Cavus. As an initial measure, authorities decided to place the affected livestock unit under quarantine, while vaccines are expected to be sent from Turkey.
Foot-and-mouth disease spreads quickly among cloven-hoofed animals and can have devastating consequences for livestock farming and agricultural production, even when it poses little direct risk to humans.
Adding to the pressure, the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) issued a statement warning of the dangers of the disease spreading further. The party stressed the potentially serious impact on animal husbandry and agriculture and urged the “competent authorities” to act swiftly to contain the situation.
The developments are being closely watched, given the disease’s history of spreading rapidly if not contained early and the potential economic fallout for the farming sector in the occupied areas and beyond.
