The spread of foot and mouth disease to Yeri and Dali in the Nicosia district is “unfortunate”, veterinary association chairman Demetris Epaminondas said on Tuesday, though he did stress that it was not unforeseen.

“The spread to Yeri and Dali is something which was within the possible scenarios … It is an unfortunate event, but it does not mean that the measures are not working, or that the disease did not previously exist in that specific area,” he said.

He added that as such, the authorities are now attempting to determine to where else the disease has spread, with it “likely” that more cases will be found in other areas.

Asked whether there may have been cases in Yeri and Dali before this week, he said that “this is something that the epidemiological investigation conducted by the veterinary services will show”.

He then said that his association is “committed” to the plan it received from the veterinary services department regarding vaccinations.

“We are advancing the vaccination procedure; we are finishing the first doses. Theoretically, we will finish by the end of March, and this is the goal,” he said, before adding that thus far, around 80 per cent of cattle and 45 per cent of sheep and goats have been vaccinated.

The goal, he said, is “to vaccinate all units, sheep, goats, and cattle, to obtain a good level of immunity”.

Two cases of the disease had been detected in the Nicosia district on Monday, with all previous cases having been recorded in the Larnaca district.