Northern Cyprus Delivers Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine to Greek Cypriots Amid Outbreak

Cross-Community Aid in FMD Crisis

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has recently delivered 10,000 doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine to the Greek Cypriot Administration. This initial shipment is part of a planned total of 20,000 doses, with the remaining amount expected to be transferred in the coming days. The delivery underscores a rare instance of cross-community cooperation on animal health, despite ongoing political divisions on the island.

The vaccine transfer comes as the Greek Cypriot Administration grapples with a significant FMD outbreak, primarily affecting the Larnaca district. The disease has been detected across 11 farms in areas including Livadia, Oroklini, Troulloi, and Aradippou. Authorities have confirmed that approximately 14,000 animals have been affected, leading to the culling of at least 13,000 animals, including 263 cattle already destroyed, with thousands of sheep, goats, and swine also slated for culling.

Outbreak Triggers Emergency Response

In response to the escalating crisis, the Greek Cypriot Administration has activated a national emergency plan and established a 24-hour crisis management center. Nationwide restrictions on the movement of livestock, vehicles, and farm personnel have been imposed to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus. Senior Veterinary Officer Soteria Georgiadou noted that Cyprus had maintained a disease-free status until February 21, 2026, which, under World Organisation for Animal Health rules, precluded vaccination efforts prior to the confirmed outbreak.

The FMD outbreak poses a severe threat to Cyprus's agricultural sector, particularly its lucrative exports of halloumi cheese, a product made from goat and sheep milk. The economic implications of the disease have prompted swift action from the authorities, with European Union experts now on the ground to oversee vaccination efforts and provide technical support.

Vaccine Origins and Regional Context

The vaccines provided by the TRNC are part of a larger consignment of 500,000 FMD vaccine doses supplied by the European Commission to the Republic of Cyprus. These EU-funded vaccines were initially allocated to Turkish Cypriot farmers following the detection of FMD cases in Northern Cyprus as early as December 2025, particularly in the village of Boğaziçi (Lapathos). Turkish Cypriot 'agriculture minister' Hüseyin Çavuş had previously stated that he had informed Cypriot authorities about the outbreak in the north, alleging a lack of recognition regarding the seriousness of the situation.

The current delivery represents a reciprocal gesture, with the Turkish Cypriots returning a portion of the EU-supplied doses to assist the Greek Cypriot side. While the cooperation highlights a shared interest in safeguarding animal health across the island, President Nikos Christodoulides of the Republic of Cyprus suggested that the disease may have spread from the north due to 'possibly illegal activities,' though he did not specify further. FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals but does not pose a direct threat to human health.