The Veterinary Services are proceeding with the official registration of around 3,000 cases of foot-and-mouth disease identified over the summer at five livestock units, with the animals expected to be culled in the coming days, Veterinary Services Director Christodoulos Pipis told CNA on Sunday. The units are located in Avgorou, Dromolaxia, Alethriko, Aradippou and Pentakomo. Pipis stressed that these are not new cases, but cases that were not officially reported when they were first identified. He explained that the Veterinary Services had sought clarification from the European Commission, as questions had arisen over the epidemiological conditions, vaccination, the location of the farms in relation to the initial cases and the legal requirements for officially reporting a case. Officials held off on registering them at the time, he said, because "we wanted to discuss the matter with the European Commission" and establish whether, under those specific conditions, they should be reported as cases. The cases will now be reported according to the date on which they were identified.
Compensation for farmers
Pipis said the same compensation measures applied in other cases will be followed, with farmers compensated for both the animals and the milk. Those who resume operations will receive support to do so, as well as for any losses, and they will be included in the group of affected livestock farmers. The owners of the five units will be summoned to the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday afternoon to be briefed on the situation and the process to follow.
Source: CNA
