Cyprus addresses foot-and-mouth disease crisis

President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus is addressing a worsening foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that has affected 120 farms across the country. Following a series of cases in Pakhna and three new detections in Paliometocho, Mammari, and Kokkinotrimithia, farmers have expressed frustration over mass culling policies and inconsistent lab results. While agricultural organizations requested a formal meeting, independent breeders organized a protest at the Presidential Palace. The government held an internal briefing on May 28, 2026, with Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou and expert Stavros Malas to evaluate the epidemiological data. A high-level meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at 9:30 a.m. with the epidemiological team, followed by a session with agricultural organizations at 11:00 a.m. Current official strategy includes continuing rapid vaccination programs and increasing nationwide sampling to curb the virus spread. While breeders claim that definitive decisions are expected on Tuesday, government sources maintain that the meeting's outcome cannot be predetermined.