There is ongoing cooperation through the bi-communal Technical Committee on Health regarding foot-and-mouth disease, said Leonidas Fylaktou, Greek Cypriot co-chair of the committee.
Fylaktou told Cyprus News Agency that members of the committee have been in regular contact, holding meetings to exchange information on the situation in the north, with the most recent meeting taking place on Monday, prior to cases being identified in the government-controlled areas.
According to Fylaktou, the Turkish Cypriot side confirmed that they are implementing safety measures and supervising restricted zones in the north. He added that the disease has not spread from the initial outbreak area in Lapathos.
Vaccination campaign continues in northern areas
Regarding vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease sent by the EU to the Turkish Cypriots, Fylaktou said they were delivered last Friday and vaccination efforts are ongoing in the north. The Turkish Cypriot authorities have chosen vaccination as a policy to avoid culling, citing the potential economic impact of animal deaths.
Technical committee heads meet in London
Separately, the heads of the Technical Committees met in London this week, from Wednesday to Friday, under the leadership of Maria Angela Holguin, personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the purpose of the meeting was to exchange experiences and draw lessons from the committees’ cooperation to date, reinforcing cross-community collaboration on health issues.