First livestock farm in Pakhna begins restocking after foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the livestock farm owned by Father Christos in Pakhna officially began the process of restocking its herd, marking the first such recovery in the region since an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred six months ago. The initial phase involves the introduction of 28 sentinel sheep, which will serve as indicators to ensure the premises are free of the virus.

Upon arrival, the animals were inventoried by veterinary officials from the Limassol district. These sentinel animals will now undergo a strict monitoring period lasting between 21 and 30 days. Following this interval, veterinary staff will conduct new laboratory tests to confirm that the animals remain free of the disease. If the results are negative, the farm will be permitted to continue its full-scale restocking and gradually resume normal production activities.

While this development offers hope for the Pakhna facility, livestock farmers in the Larnaca and Nicosia districts have expressed frustration over ongoing delays in the recovery process within their own regions. The veterinary authorities have emphasized that these rigorous steps are necessary to ensure the permanent eradication of the disease, following the complete culling of the original herd earlier this year.