British military bases in Cyprus are cleaning two important border crossings. This is to stop a disease called foot-and-mouth disease. The disease is very contagious. It can spread to animals like cows, pigs, goats, and sheep. There are more cases of this disease in the north of the island.
The disease was announced on Monday. However, the British bases have not had any outbreaks. The island is connected, so they need to be careful. Therefore, two crossing points, Pergamos and Strovilia, now have special cleaning equipment. This will help stop the disease from spreading.
Authorities in the north are trying to control the disease. The first cases were found on a farm. Animals with symptoms are being kept separate. Also, a vaccination program is happening. It will vaccinate about 13,000 animals. Cleaning farms and animal places is very important. Movement of animals in affected areas is also restricted.
Mark Hartley, who leads customs for the bases, explained the need for these measures. He said they are acting fast and working with the Republic of Cyprus. This is to keep people and animals safe. It also helps the border crossings work normally.
A large outbreak could hurt the economy. It could affect milk and meat production. While sick animals often get better, stopping the disease costs money. Cleaning borders and controlling animals in affected areas helps reduce these risks. The Republic of Cyprus has not found any cases. This shows their monitoring is working. The next few weeks will show if these actions stop the disease.