The North Cyprus Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dursun Oğuz said that research regarding the source of “sheep-goat smallpox” disease in small cattle and vaccination studies are continuing.
Oguz stated that there is no harm in terms of health in consuming meat or milk from animals.
Responding to questions on a television program, Oğuz referred to claims as to whether “sheep-goat smallpox” on small animals could have been transmitted to the North Cyprus by smuggling live animals from South Cyprus. Oğuz is reported as saying that no such evidence has been documented nor has there been any such findings but that the issue was being investigated.
Oguz continued:
“We have completely blocked off the quarantine zone. Vaccination work is continuing rapidly. We will finish the vaccine work in a few days. There is nothing clear about the source of the disease. It was seen only in three farms at Gazimağusa (Famagusta) Organized Livestock Zone.
There have been warnings of the suspicion of animal shearing. Research on the exact process is still ongoing,” Oğuz said.
