European Union specialist on animal disease Alberto Ladomada said on Wednesday that all data collected so far indicates that foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus type O is present in Cyprus, noting that available data does not indicate a major spread of the disease.
Ladomada was speaking after a meeting at the Veterinary Services offices in Larnaca, presided over by Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Photis Photiou, with the participation of other experts.
Photiou noted that the government was taking the measures set out by the EU to tackle FMD and that Cyprus was obliged to implement EU directives.
Ladomada said ”today we have reviewed the situation together with the veterinary authorities of Cyprus and we have looked into all the data that has been gathered by the laboratory here in Cyprus and by the community laboratory in Pirbright that indicate that foot and mouth disease virus type O is present in Cyprus.”
”There are three sets of results that indicate that. We have also discussed how to continue to carry out surveillance in the area of Dromolaxia. There are a lot of activities ongoing here just to ensure that the disease can be controlled as quickly as possible,” he added.
He said ”the data that is available so far does not indicate a major spread of disease so far and this should induce us to be very vigorous in the quick implementation of disease control measures so that foot and mouth disease can be eradicated as quickly as possible.”
Replying to questions, Ladomada said ”we still do not know precisely if there is any relationship between what is happening here in Cyprus and what has happened in countries in the region like Egypt, it is too early to say that, so we cannot assume that there is any relationship between the foot and mouth in Egypt and what is happening in Cyprus.”
Asked if he was satisfied with the measures taken in Cyprus, Ladomada replied positively, noting that ”for this reason I fully urge all the farmers to fully cooperate with the veterinary authorities of Cyprus because to eradicate foot and mouth disease is not an easy job and full cooperation of the farmers is really essential.”
Invited to explain how the virus acted, Ladomada said ”the impression that we have at this moment is that the virus is not spreading quickly within or between the farms.”
”So I think that the measures that are taken so far are precautionary and we hope that this can be successful. But of course a lot of work needs to be done in the next days and weeks to ensure that these results are achieved as soon as possible,” he pointed out.
Photiou said the government was taking the measures set out by the EU to tackle FMD and that Cyprus was obliged and committed to implement EU directives, especially in health issues.
Referring to the measures adopted by the Council of Ministers earlier in the day, Photiou said they gave the stockbreeders ”a very strong incentive” to begin afresh.
”Our aim is to help them. We want to support our stockbreeders,” he noted.
