Cyprus Launches Emergency Livestock Vaccination Campaign to Stop Disease Outbreak

Cyprus is implementing a massive vaccination program for thousands of farm animals to combat a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that has already affected 11 farms. The highly contagious disease threatens the island's lucrative halloumi cheese exports and has forced authorities to cull over 13,000 animals.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cypriot officials announced Wednesday they will launch an extensive vaccination campaign targeting thousands of farm animals as they work to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease that has already forced the destruction of at least 13,000 livestock and poses a serious threat to the nation’s halloumi cheese industry.

Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou revealed that specialists from the European Union have arrived to supervise the first phase of immunizations at agricultural operations within a 1.9-mile perimeter around where the outbreak began.

The contagious viral infection has now impacted 11 agricultural facilities across four villages near Cyprus’s southern coast. Response teams are actively disinfecting vehicles as they enter the restricted area to prevent any potential transmission of the disease, which causes high temperatures and painful mouth lesions in animals while severely cutting milk output and weakening livestock.

“Strictly obeying biosecurity measures is absolutely essential as they are a key tool to containing the virus,” Panayiotou told a news conference, adding that private veterinarians have been recruited to help state authorities administer the vaccine.

Officials will initially use 10,000 vaccine doses obtained from the island’s northern Turkish Cypriot region before receiving more than 500,000 additional doses from European pharmaceutical companies.

Soteria Georgiadou, a top administrator with Cyprus’ Veterinary Services, explained that authorities had previously provided EU-supplied vaccines to Turkish Cypriot farmers when the disease first emerged in northern livestock operations at the end of 2025. The Turkish Cypriots have now agreed to return some of those doses.

Georgiadou confirmed that 263 cattle have been eliminated, with another 13,000 sheep, goats and pigs scheduled for destruction and burial at designated locations. She indicated the vaccination effort could expand to cover a 6.2-mile radius from the outbreak’s center, while disinfection procedures will continue for several more months.

The island nation was divided along ethnic boundaries in 1974 when Turkey launched an invasion after a coup attempt aimed at joining Cyprus with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence. While Cyprus became an EU member in 2004, solely the southern Greek Cypriot region where the internationally recognized government operates receives complete membership privileges.

President Nikos Christodoulides promised government assistance and financial compensation for affected farmers. He suggested the disease may have originated from the north due to “possibly illegal activities,” though he provided no additional details.

Officials have moved swiftly to safeguard the island’s halloumi production, the distinctive white cheese that can be grilled and has gained popularity in international markets. The cheese generated exports worth just over 200 million euros ($236 million) during the first six months of 2025, reportedly exceeding revenues from the island’s important pharmaceutical industry.

Marios Constantinou, who leads the Cheesemakers Association, assured that halloumi manufacturing and shipments to primary markets including the EU, United Kingdom and Australia remain secure thanks to safety protocols implemented during production.

Panayiotou reported no additional cases of the disease have been discovered beyond the 11 impacted farms, and rigorous testing procedures for animal samples are now in effect. She emphasized that consuming meat remains safe even following vaccination.