NICOSIA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus has confirmed additional cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Larnaca district in the island's southeast, bringing the total number of affected livestock units to 22, authorities said on Sunday.
Senior veterinary officer Sotiria Georgiadou said 11 new cases were detected in Livadia and Oroklini, both located east of Larnaca city on the southeastern coast of Cyprus. The newly identified cases involve about 2,200 animals, in addition to approximately 13,000 infections previously recorded. The total number of affected animals could rise to around 16,000 depending on new births, according to the Cyprus Mail.
Veterinary authorities confirmed the first case of FMD on Feb. 20 at a cow-breeding unit in Livadia. The outbreak is centered in Oroklini, a village about 6 km northeast of Larnaca.
Georgiadou said 529,000 vaccine doses arrived from the European Union on Saturday, and distribution to private veterinarians began the same evening. By Saturday, 27,000 doses had already been delivered for use in sheep and goat farms.
She noted that all newly infected units are located within the designated containment zone, expressing hope that the virus can be confined to the affected area.
Authorities have stepped up culling operations and tightened biosecurity measures, urging livestock farmers to strictly comply with disease-control regulations to prevent further spread. ■