The United Kingdom is closely monitoring the spread of foot‑and‑mouth disease in northern Cyprus and parts of the Middle East, following similar steps taken by Australia.
Britain’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has confirmed that the outbreak affecting the island is caused by the SAT1 variant, which it says entered the region via Turkey.
A DEFRA report said Turkey has recorded 1,144 SAT1 cases this year, including 639 in recent months.
The report also noted that while the situation in northern Cyprus is “more serious,” with multiple control measures in place, no cases or suspected cases have been detected in the Republic of Cyprus.
The Veterinary Services in the Republic are fully aligned with EU regulations, meaning preventative vaccination is not currently required.
SAT1 cases have also been detected in Lebanon, the report said.
Despite the wider regional spread, DEFRA assessed the likelihood of the SAT1 variant reaching the UK as low, largely because Britain does not import live animals or animal products from affected areas. The UK has warned travellers returning from Cyprus and Turkey that bringing in illegal meat or dairy products carries criminal penalties. Farmers have also been reminded that feeding livestock with kitchen waste is prohibited.