A serious outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is causing worry in Cyprus. This disease is very easy to catch and affects animals like cows, sheep, and pigs. To stop the virus from spreading, thousands of animals must be killed. This has led to protests from farmers.
The first signs of the disease appeared in northern Cyprus in late 2025. It seems the virus was spreading quietly in sheep and goats since early 2026. The situation became serious on February 19th. A cow farm near Larnaca in the south had the first confirmed case. The next day, a second case was found.
A special EU team came to Cyprus to help. They visited from February 24th to 27th. The type of FMD found, SAT1, is new to the area. It has been seen in Turkey and Greece. The virus can spread easily. People, objects, and even air can carry it. Strict EU rules are now in place to stop it.
These rules include creating special zones around infected farms. Animals cannot be moved anywhere in the country. The border area is also watched closely. However, these actions are causing big problems for farmers. They are losing their animals and their money.
Farmers are very angry and have protested in Nicosia. They have spoken with the president. Some farmers have blocked veterinary workers. They are questioning the rules for testing animals. The tension is high because of the need to stop the disease and protect people's jobs.
An EU official visited Cyprus. He said that following the rules is very important. But the virus is still spreading. It has now affected 44 farms and over 30,000 animals. About 21,000 goats and sheep have been killed. Many animals are being vaccinated. However, the future is still uncertain. Illegal animal movements are also being found. This outbreak could be very bad for Cyprus's farming industry.