Cyprus has recorded three additional foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks, pushing the total number of confirmed infected holdings to 101, according to an announcement by the Veterinary Services on Saturday.

New Confirmed Cases

The latest positive confirmations span three separate locations and livestock types. A sheep and goat unit in Dromolaxia-Meneou has been confirmed as infected, alongside a cattle unit in Geri and a pig unit in Palaiometocho. The Veterinary Services noted that the newly confirmed pig unit is situated close to the first pig holding where the disease was previously detected in the area.

Sampling, contact tracing and laboratory analysis are continuing across all holdings falling within designated infected livestock zones, authorities said.

Breakdown of Infected Holdings

The 101 confirmed infected units are distributed across two districts and multiple livestock categories:

  • Cattle units (13 total): Nine in Larnaca district and four in Nicosia district
  • Sheep and goat units (86 total): 62 in Larnaca district and 24 in Nicosia district
  • Pig units (2 total): Both located in the western part of Nicosia district, in Palaiometocho

Culling operations and assessment procedures remain ongoing in both Nicosia and Larnaca, the Veterinary Services confirmed.

Vaccination Progress

The second phase of the national vaccination programme is advancing across all affected animal categories. So far, 73.5% of the cattle population has received vaccination, while 58.5% of the sheep and goat population has been covered. Coverage is notably higher among pig units located within the three- and ten-kilometre infected zones, where 94.73% of holdings have been vaccinated to date.

What Happens Next

Authorities have not indicated a timeline for when the outbreak may be brought under control, but ongoing surveillance, culling and vaccination efforts suggest containment remains the immediate priority. The Veterinary Services continue to monitor holdings within infected zones through systematic sampling and laboratory testing, as the disease has now spread to 101 units across Larnaca and Nicosia districts.