The foot-and-mouth disease crisis has affected Cyprus as well as other countries in the wider Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece and Israel, but the course of the outbreak and the response have differed considerably.
In Cyprus, no new cases have been recorded since 9 June, and preparations are under way to reactivate the first affected livestock units before the end of the year. In Lesbos, however, new outbreaks continue to be detected among sheep, goats, cattle and pigs.
The contrast has renewed discussion over crisis management, particularly the decision to introduce protective-suppressive vaccination early in Cyprus.
Early vaccination in Cyprus
Dimitris Epaminondas, president of the Cyprus Veterinary Association and a member of the Epidemiological Team managing the outbreak, identified vaccination as a key difference between the two islands.
Cyprus began protective vaccination on 25 February, five days after the first case was declared.
By 7 March, around 15 days into the outbreak, approximately 30% of the livestock population in Larnaca, Famagusta and eastern Nicosia had been covered, with private veterinarians assisting in the campaign.
At the same time, authorities carried out surveillance and tracing, imposed movement restrictions, strengthened biosecurity measures and immediately removed animals that tested positive.
Epaminondas said the vaccination strategy was the central point of comparison between Cyprus and Lesbos and argued that the Cypriot model should be seriously considered when planning responses to future animal disease outbreaks.
121 affected farms in Cyprus
Official data show that Cyprus recorded its first outbreak on 20 February, around seven months ago.
By 9 June, when the last case was detected in Mammari, the disease had affected 121 livestock units and led to the culling of 80,133 animals.
No further cases have been recorded since then.
Authorities are now preparing for the gradual reactivation of the first livestock units before the new year.
Outbreak continues in Lesbos
In Lesbos, the first infected farm was identified on 16 March, approximately six months ago.
Since then, the disease has affected 192 livestock units, while approximately 82,000 animals have been culled.
Unlike Cyprus, new outbreaks continue to be reported.
The question of whether vaccination should now be introduced remains under discussion, although some scientists believe that, given the extent of the culling already carried out, the opportunity for an effective vaccination intervention may have passed.
Livestock density differs considerably
Epaminondas also highlighted livestock density as an important factor when comparing the two islands.
He noted that geography, the concentration of farms, animal movements and biosecurity can significantly influence the speed and scale of an animal disease outbreak. These factors were also among the main findings of the Scientific Committee for the reconstruction of Cyprus' livestock sector, chaired by Stavros Malas.
Lesbos has approximately 2.5 times the density of sheep and goats recorded in Cyprus.
Cyprus has around 555,000 sheep and goats across approximately 5,500 square kilometres, while Lesbos has about 420,000 across 1,630 square kilometres.
The situation is reversed for cattle.
Cyprus has approximately 87,000 cattle across 5,500 square kilometres, giving it roughly five times the cattle density of Lesbos, which has around 5,000 cattle across 1,630 square kilometres.
Israel faced wider outbreak
The crisis has not been confined to Cyprus and Greece.
During the presentation of the livestock reconstruction plan last week, Malas said the situation had been considerably worse in Israel.
Around 120 cases had been recorded there by May. According to information presented during the discussion, the virus strain was not covered by the conventional vaccine, contributing to a rapid acceleration in transmission during the spring.
Authorities responded with strict quarantines, movement restrictions and the closure of national parks.
The comparison between Cyprus and Lesbos ultimately highlights the importance of timing, vaccination policy, livestock density, movement controls and biosecurity in containing major animal disease outbreaks.
For Cyprus, the absence of new cases since early June is now allowing attention to shift from emergency containment towards the difficult process of rebuilding and restarting affected livestock farms.
