Cyprus to cull in suspect foot and mouth outbreak

NICOSIA, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Cyprus said it would cull up to 300 goats and sheep in a suspected outbreak of foot and mouth disease, with thousands more at risk if conclusive test results expected by Monday were positive.

Authorities said they were also extending a quarantine zone around two suspect farms in the southern district of Larnaca.

On Nov. 2, a European Union laboratory informed Cyprus samples taken from one farm showed a high probability of the disease. Final results were expected on Monday.

"We will cull between 270 and 300 sheep and goats today," said Agriculture Minister Photis Photiou on Sunday. But the scheduled cull did not go ahead after angry farmers blocked the entrance to the two farms.

It was expected to go ahead on Monday.

Cyprus has not had a foot and mouth outbreak since the early sixties, and any verification would have a devastating impact on the island's animal husbandry industry. More than 100,000 animals were at risk.