Cyprus is facing a serious problem with Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). This is a very contagious sickness for farm animals. A disagreement between officials and some farmers is making the problem worse. It is stopping important work to control the disease. Veterinary Services want to kill sick animals. This is a rule from the European Union to stop the virus from spreading.
The disease started mostly in the Larnaca area. However, it can affect the whole island. Veterinary Services must kill all animals on farms with the disease. This is the rule, even if the animals do not look sick. This rule helps stop the virus quickly. It also protects the farming economy. About 14,000 sheep and goats have been killed. Also, around 1,100 cattle have been killed. About 10,000 more animals may be killed.
A government official, Sotiria Gregoriadou, said it is important to make hard choices. She said, "We cannot save the tree and lose the forest." Farmers are upset because they lose money and their animals. This disagreement has caused problems. Some farmers were reportedly aggressive towards veterinary officials. Police have been told about these incidents.
At the same time, many animals are getting vaccinations. This helps make them stronger against the disease. This is happening in areas near the border. Most cattle farms have received vaccinations. However, fewer sheep and goat farms have been vaccinated. Only about 35% of them have received vaccines.
The Cyprus government knows farmers are having a hard time. They are creating a plan to give money to farmers. A committee met to discuss how to help. They will assess each farmer's losses. The government will pay up to €50,000 per farmer. This is to help with the financial problems.
An EU leader, Oliver Varhelyi, visited Cyprus. He said everyone must work together. He said, "The only way out of this crisis quickly is full implementation of the measures." This means following the rules is very important. The President and other government people are working on this problem. They are trying to balance rules with farmers' feelings. The FMD virus spreads fast. If farmers do not follow rules, the disease could last longer. This could hurt the animal farming industry. Veterinary Services are checking farms and watching for the disease. They ask people to be careful.