Greek island confirms FMD in sheep and cattle
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has confirmed Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) on a mixed cattle and sheep farm on the island of Lesvos, Greece.
As pigs are susceptible for the virus, this development is also something to watch closely for professionals involved in the pig industry. The WOAH reported about 38 cattle being involved and 250 sheep, with 9 confirmed cases in both species, on a farm in the north of the island. The outbreak of FMD was found on March 15, with confirmation occurring one day later. Control measures include stamping out, zoning and movement control.
This disease had previously been eradicated in the region, with the last occurrence confirmed on 18 August 1994, WOAH said. At the moment, the exact serotype of the FMD outbreak is unknown, with research pending.
Goats are Greece’s major livestock type, with the sheep sector also being an important source of income. According to figures by the European Commission, Greece as a whole – not just the island of Lesvos – had 782,000 pigs in 2025.
Also 40 outbreaks of FMD in Cyprus
Recent weeks also saw FMD spread to Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean. Just like in Greece, no pigs have been involved so far. At Cyprus, authorities have been intensely working to contain the outbreak in the Larnaca district’s livestock since its detection in late February. On March 9, the virus also emerged in 2 farms in the Nicosia district.
So far, WOAH confirmed outbreaks on 38 farms in Larnaca district and 2 farms in the Nicosia district. Most of them housed sheep and/or goats. In total, 6 of the Cypriotic farms had cattle on-site. The serotype that was found in Cyprus is SAT 1 – one that hadn’t been reported before from Cyprus.
According to figures from the European Commission, EU member state Cyprus had 335,000 pigs in 2025. Prior to this outbreak, Cyprus had maintained FMD-free status since 2008, with an outbreak in 2007 (serotype O).
Where did FMD come from?
The outbreaks in Cyprus is not related to the FMD outbreaks that occurred in spring 2025 in Germany as well as at the border of Slovakia and Hungary. Those outbreaks involved serotype O.
It is unclear whether the virtually simultaneous outbreaks in Greece and Cyprus are related to one another. After all, as the crow flies, Cyprus and Lesvos are 800 km away from each other. Both islands are relatively close to neighbouring Turkey, where FMD has been endemic since the discovery of the virus in 1914. It is known that various FMD serotypes circulate in Turkey.
