Israeli media highlights cross-border concerns
The outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Cyprus is not only threatening livestock but is also developing into a wider political and economic issue, particularly for the dairy sector and halloumi production, according to Israeli newspaper Maariv.
The report claims the virus spreads easily across the Green Line, making coordinated island-wide measures essential for effective containment.
Diverging approaches to disease control
The foot and mouth disease in Cyprus response has exposed differences in strategy between the two sides of the island.
As an EU member state, the Republic of Cyprus is required to follow strict regulations, which include the culling of entire herds even if only one infected animal is detected.
In contrast, the Turkish Cypriot side reportedly uses mass vaccination without culling, a policy that Nicosia considers risky, arguing it allows continued circulation of the virus.
Growing tension among farming communities
The report quotes agricultural representatives expressing frustration over the situation.
Panikos Hambas, secretary-general of the Farmers’ Union, said Cyprus should be treated as a single ecological unit.
“We are one yard, and the same rules must apply to everyone,” he said.
Christos Papapetrou, head of the Panagrotiki Union, also warned that farmers are angry over the culling of healthy animals while the virus may still be present in the occupied areas.
He cautioned that once the island is cleared, re-infection could occur if the disease persists across the divide.
EU stance on containment measures
The report notes that the European Union does not appear willing to relax its strict containment framework.
EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi reportedly stated that culling exposed herds remains the only viable solution to prevent widespread infection.
“We cannot allow the entire island to become infected,” he said.
Ongoing agricultural and political implications
The Cyprus foot and mouth disease situation continues to raise concerns over biosecurity, cross-border coordination, and the long-term stability of the island’s livestock and dairy industries.
Authorities on both sides maintain differing approaches, with no unified strategy currently in place.
Source: CNA
Also read: Seven more cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the affected areas
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