FMD Cyprus: Virus already circulated in the north in December 2025
The outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) on the island of Cyprus has been circulating since mid-December 2025. Reports of outbreaks show that the virus emerged by that time in the Turkish-speaking, northern part of the island.
Officially, the Republic of Cyprus reported its first outbreak on 19 February to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). That was the first time the virus had emerged on the island since 2008. That wasn’t, however, the first outbreak on the island.
Ever since 1974, Cyprus has been divided into 2 territories: a southern, Greek-speaking part, which is now officially known as the state Republic of Cyprus, covers roughly 60% of the island and is a member of the European Union. The northern, Turkish-speaking area is not an internationally recognised territory, called Northern Cyprus.
As the WOAH can only publish data supplied by recognised nations, detailed, up-to-date, publicly available information from the north is less straightforward to come by.
Reports of FMD since December 2025
The Union of European Veterinary Practitioners, however, reported on the presence of FMD in Northern Cyprus in mid-December 2025. The union quoted reports of the virus being found near the northern towns Ayios Sergios (Famagusta district) and Lapithos (Kyrenia district). The veterinary lab in Ankara, Turkey, at the time confirmed it was the SAT-1 strain of FMD. A vaccination programme would have been started, the article said.
A different article also spoke of an outbreak near the northern town Boğaziçi (Famagusta district), mid-December 2026.
Total number of infected farms at 102
According to the latest WOAH data, a total of 102 farms have now been infected in the Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus, of which 12 had cattle on site, all in the districts Nicosia and Larnaca. The majority, however, had sheep and/or goats on the premises.
Interestingly, now also the first swine farms have been reported infected. In total, 3 locations close to one another about 10 km east of the capital Nicosia fell victim to the virus in mid-April 2026. The total number of pigs that would have to be culled is 21,144. The 3 locations were within 400 m of one another.
FMD Greece
About 600 km to the northwest, the Greek island of Lesvos is continuing its battle against FMD as well. On this island, no pig herds have been infected, but the virus does continue to spread. The outbreaks were initially concentrated in the northeast of the island, which is 67 km east to west and 48 km north to south.
In the latest WOAH update, the outbreak tally has risen to 43, of which 2 are on the west side of the island. In total, 12 of the 43 farms had cattle on site, while the remainder kept sheep, and a few also had goats.
