Astonishingly aggressive steps are underway in southeastern Cyprus to stamp out a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. But here’s where it gets controversial: authorities have imposed a strict quarantine across sections of Larnaca district, aiming to stop the spread and protect nearby livestock industries.
The epicenter appears to be the village of Oroklini, about 6 km northeast of Larnaca city, with linked cases reported in the neighboring area of Livadia. On Friday, veterinary services in the government-controlled zones confirmed the first FMD case at a cow-breeding operation in Livadia.
Investigations point to two sizable sheep and goat farms in Oroklini as the outbreak’s likely origin, suggesting the virus has been circulating for at least a couple of weeks. In response, roughly 300 animals at the Livadia farm are being culled under sanitary protocols, and farm products, including milk and meat, have been seized to prevent further contamination. Any new positive case within a three-kilometre protection zone would trigger the culling of all animals on the affected premises.
Containment measures cover twenty-three livestock holdings under daily monitoring. Authorities have tightly restricted animal movements, closed several roads, disinfected vehicles, and stepped up police patrols to enforce compliance.
To shore up response, veterinarians from other districts and private sector professionals are being brought in while investigators explore possible transmission pathways, including contaminated feed. If no new cases emerge, restrictions could be lifted after 21 days.
Would you support these intensive quarantine measures if you were a local farmer, or do you think there are alternative strategies that could be equally effective with less disruption to communities and livelihoods?
