the first outbreak was found in Pakhna, quarantine is being introduced around the village.

Cyprus veterinary services have confirmed the first case of foot-and-mouth disease in Limassola County. The virus was detected on a farm with 66 goats and sheep in the village of Pakhna. Over the past weekend, four new cases were also confirmed in the livestock facilities of Dromolaxia and Afienu. The number of infected farms throughout the island reached 117. Block posts of quarantine and surveillance zones are already being installed around Pakhna, under which several villages of the district will fall.

Where was the hearth found and what is known about the farm?

The infected farm is located between the villages of Pahna and Prastio and does not directly border other livestock facilities. The farm went through both stages of vaccination. The second round of vaccinations has already been completed throughout Limassol County – goats, sheep and cattle have been vaccinated. Immediately after confirming the diagnosis, veterinary services began slaughtering all 66 animals on the farm.

What threatens neighboring villages?

The head of the Pakhny community and the chairman of the Krasokhoria district association, Andreas Savvas, said that he had learned about the outbreak from journalists – even before the official statement of the authorities. According to him, all neighborhoods of the district within a radius of 10 kilometers will fall under quarantine restrictions: Pakhna, Ayos Amvrosios, Anogira, Avdima, Prastio and Pissuri.

Two zones are established around the focus:

Protective zone (3 km) – enhanced control, strict biosecurity measures, ban on the movement of animals and animal products.

Surveillance zone (10 km) – monitoring of new cases, targeted inspections of farms, restrictions on livestock transportation.

In Pahna, 28 livestock farms and about 10,000 animals are registered. Pahna – Prastio – Anogira District is a traditional small cattle breeding area. Local farmer Kostas Salatas says there is anxiety in the district: “We have all vaccinated animals twice in the last month. This news is of great concern to us.”

According to the director of the veterinary service Christodoulos Pipis, the spread of foot-and-mouth disease is partly due to the illegal movement of animals between farms in the areas of Nicosia and Larnaca.

How many animals have already been destroyed?

More than 70,000 animals have been slaughtered since the outbreak began: 43,156 goats and sheep, 3,017 cattle and 24,483 pigs. This represents 11% of the total adult small cattle population on the island, 3.5% of cattle and about 7.8% of pigs.

According to the chairman of the veterinary association Dimitris Epaminondas, there is no alternative to slaughter when containing the disease. He also emphasized that vaccination does not replace slaughter: its goal is to reduce the transmissibility of the virus, but even a vaccinated animal with a positive test must be destroyed.

How does the state support affected farmers?

More than 35.6 million euros have been allocated to compensate and support livestock farmers affected by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Payments for slaughtered animals range from €47 to €420 for a goat or sheep, €150 to €2,500 for a cattle head and €35 to €5,000 for a pig.

The support package includes five measures: immediate compensation for slaughtered animals, income support for up to 12 months for those planning to resume work, assistance in restructuring farms with animals of high genetic value, coverage for feed costs and the appointment of a state curator for each affected farmer.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodulidis said that the compensation package is 200% higher than similar payments in other EU countries. Nevertheless, some farmers’ organizations continue to criticize the opacity of the calculation of payments and express their readiness for new protests.

Where did the outbreak start and when will it end?

The first outbreak in the Republic of Cyprus was confirmed on February 20 at a dairy farm near Livadia in Larnaca. The virus is identified as serotype SAT 1 – exotic for West Asia: animals do not have immunity to it and are extremely susceptible to infection. Serotype O FMD was last recorded in Cyprus in 2007.

Prior to the current outbreak, Cyprus had FMD-free status without vaccination, as decided by the World Organisation for Animal Health. According to veterinary specialists, it can take up to six months to restore this status from the moment the last outbreak is eliminated.

An official website with up-to-date information on the outbreak, measures and compensations for farmers is available at footandmouth.gov.cy.

https://lenta.cy/jashhur-dobralsja-do-limasola-pervyj-ochag-obnaruzhen-v-pahne-vokrug-derevni-vvodjat-karantin