November 7, 2007

 

Cyprus culls more cattle to control FMD

 

 

Cyprus has slaughtered more cattle on Tuesday (November 6) to prevent further outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) which is deem to deal a devastating blow to farmers and cost the small island millions.

 

The outbreak, as confirmed by EU experts on Monday (November 5), is the first on the island in more than 40 years and led to a suspension of all meat and dairy exports.

 

Agriculture Minister Photis Photiou was quoted as saying that FMD is a "very serious situation and we are going through very difficult hours."

 

Three hundred goats and sheep at two farms were put down in a pre-emptive cull on Monday. The cull extended to another 200 animals on Tuesday, but was likely to gather pace in coming days, including 2,000 on Wednesday.

 

Authorities have also banned slaughter at abattoirs and the movement of animals as a preventive measure.

 

Underscoring tensions the cull has caused, two farmers barricaded themselves in with their animals in the western Paphos district, refusing access to veterinarians carrying out spot checks.

 

Many farmers initially denied there was a foot and mouth outbreak and had blocked authorities' initial attempts at a pre-emptive cull on Sunday.

 

Initial estimates of compensation total up to 20 million Cyprus pounds (US$48.7 million), but economists said it would be difficult to give a precise assessment until the extent of the problem was clearer.

 

If the problem affects all of Cyprus it might take us up to one or two years to get out of the EU quarantine, according to economist Costas Apostolides.

 

Photiou said he would ask the EU to relax restrictions on exports of Halloumi cheese, a prized export of the Mediterranean island which ships about 5,500 tonnes of the rubbery cheese to Europe annually.

 

Foot and mouth has not surfaced in Cyprus since 1963. The disease is usually harmless to humans, but extremely dangerous to cloven-hoofed animals like cows, pigs and sheep which develop sores, foam at the mouth and have difficulty standing up.

 

A 3-kilometre quarantine zone is already cordoned on the affected seven farms. Authorities have also implemented a 10-kilometre surveillance zone.

 

Authorities were drawing up an emergency package for farmers, who said it would do little to compensate for a lifetime's work.

 

Demetris Dirris, 58, a cattle breeder complains that he is "unemployed" and been a cattle farmer fears that since he was four years old. He fears that the situation would do nothing to help his livelihood.