The European Union is providing 500,000 doses of vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) from its EU antigen bank to support efforts to contain the disease in the Turkish Cypriot community.
According to the European Commission, the vaccines will be administered in the coming weeks with the aim of preventing further spread of the disease. All susceptible animals are planned to be vaccinated as part of a comprehensive containment and prevention strategy.
Background
The Commission’s decision follows an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the village of Lapathos in the north, between Lefkoniko and Trikomo, in December last year. Since then, the Turkish Cypriot local bodies have taken a number of measures, including the imposition of quarantine, restrictions on animal movements, as well as the application of disinfection protocols and strict biosecurity measures.
The European Commission, particularly through the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, has been supporting these efforts through the provision of diagnostic tests and testing consumables, as well as disinfectants, protective clothing and other essential materials. In addition, EU funding has enabled the hiring of teams of private veterinarians to reinforce local capacities and assist with containment and vaccination activities.
“This support builds on the EU’s long-standing cooperation with the Turkish Cypriot community in the field of animal health and disease prevention, allowing for a rapid and coordinated response to emerging risks,” said the European Commission in a statement.
It will continue to work closely with relevant local stakeholders to strengthen preparedness, response capacity and biosecurity measures, with the objective of safeguarding animal health, protecting livelihoods, and preventing further outbreaks, the Commission added.