FMD Outbreak in Cyprus

November 9, 2007 — 

Foot and Mouth Disease virus type O has been diagnosed in sheep on the island of Cyprus.

Sheep and goats are being culled within a 3-km quarantine area in Dromolaxia and a 10-km surveillance zone encompassing 10 villages according to European Union guidelines. Reportedly, 50 pigs in the same area will be slaughtered as a precaution. Nine cattle farms inside the affected area have so far come up clear of FMD. There are approximately 150,000 farm animals in the region.

Farmers are being compensated for each animal culled (USD $276.10) and for the loss of income from each animal for the next six months (USD $188.25). In addition, farmers will also receive compensation for animal food supplies that will have to be destroyed and for the expense of reactivating their stocks.

According to the official report filed with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the disease outbreak was confirmed on November 5th at the OIE Reference Lab at Pirbright in the UK. The diagnosis was made following the observation of oral lesions and lameness in a two-year-old ewe submitted to a District Veterinary Office for diagnosis on October 22nd. The initial report identified 19 cases out of 324 susceptible animals. All 324 animals have been destroyed.

Sources:
ProMED-mail, November 8, 2007
OIE