The foot‑and‑mouth virus had entered two livestock units in Oroklini roughly two weeks before the Veterinary Services were notified and collected samples on Feb. 21, the agency said Monday, adding that the infections had not been reported when symptoms first appeared.
The department said farmers who follow biosecurity protocols will receive full and immediate compensation based on current market prices.
The first case was reported on Feb. 19, 2026, when a livestock owner in Livadia, Larnaca, alerted authorities to symptoms consistent with foot‑and‑mouth disease. A district veterinary officer conducted a clinical inspection and collected samples, which tested positive the following day.
After that case became public, two farms in the Oroklini livestock zone informed authorities that their animals had shown symptoms for several days. Their private veterinarian had attributed the illness to gangrenous mastitis. Samples collected during a subsequent inspection tested positive on Feb. 21.
Farmers were instructed to continue caring for their animals and were given written orders, including restrictions on access to their premises.