A 60-year-old cattle farmer from Yeri was admitted to intensive care on Saturday after suffering a heart attack shortly after his animal unit tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease.

The incident occurred after veterinary services confirmed infection at his holding, which is understood to include around 300 animals that are now scheduled for culling under state containment measures.

The farmer was taken to hospital and remains in intensive care.

The development comes amid escalating tensions between livestock farmers and authorities over the government’s policy of compulsory culling to contain the outbreak.

The agriculture ministry has rejected calls from farmers to halt the destruction of healthy animals within infected units, maintaining that Cyprus is simply following European Union regulations governing FMD protocols.

Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has repeatedly said the measures are legally required.

Officials have also warned that any suspension of culling would breach EU animal health rules.

On Thursday demonstrations reached a peak when farmers effectively closed the Rizoelia roundabout, calling for the president to intervene after an unsuccessful meeting with the agriculture minister.

Authorities reiterated that “without cooperation and an end to the demonstrations, the dialogue cannot continue.”

Veterinary services have issued eight fines totalling €45,000 for illegal animal movements linked to the spread of the disease, and six further cases have been referred to police.

The outbreak has already affected more than 100 livestock units across Cyprus, with tens of thousands of animals culled as part of containment efforts.