The European Commission has sent a stockpile of "emergency supplies" to Cyprus to support its fight against foot-and-mouth disease.

Authorities in Cyprus had made a request for assistance from the commission as it continues to battle February's foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

In response the commission said it has now "mobilised its strategic stockpile of emergency supplies".

It will send Cyprus disinfectants, personal protective equipment, disposable coveralls, face masks, shoe covers, and other items essential for halting the further spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

The European Commission has already provided over one million vaccine doses to Cyprus authorities from the EU vaccine bank and three deployments of an EU veterinary emergency team, who provided tailor-made recommendations and expertise on the ground.

The EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Varhelyi has again warned that foot-and-mouth disease "is one of the most contagious animal diseases known".

"Managing it requires rapid, decisive action based on veterinary science and long-standing international protocols.

"These measures are necessary to protect healthy livestock, contain the outbreak and allow production to restart safely.

"We are fully mobilised to support Cyprus," the commissioner added.

Foot-and-mouth disease

The Cyprus Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment today (Tuesday, March 24) confirmed that it intends to build vehicle disinfection points in certain livestock areas and zones.

The ministry also indicated that the surveillance and control of the passage of vehicles through the disinfection points will be carried out by the Cyprus Police and the National Guard. 

According to authorities no one will be allowed to move within these areas unless they "obtain a relevant permit from the veterinary services".

They will also limit travel to livestock areas and zones from 05:00 to 19:00 but from 19:00 to 05:00 entry into livestock areas and zones will not be allowed.

It comes after veterinary services and police officials in Cyprus carried out a number of operations to identify "illegal animal movements" in violation of ongoing foot-and-mouth restrictions.

They discovered that there had been four cases of illegal animal trafficking in various areas including:

Tseri: 100 sheep and goats;
Potamia: 30 sheep and goats;
Meadows: 130 cattle;
Geri: 23 cattle.