(LARNACA) - Cyprus veterinary authorities on Wednesday began culling 1,500 more sheep as part of effort to contain the island's first outbreak of foot and mouth disease in more than 40 years.

The slaughter had been put on hold for a week while authorities awaited additional EU test results of samples sent for verification.

The disease has been pinpointed at two more farms in the area of the original outbreak at the village of Dromolaxia in the Larnaca district on the island's south coast, said Agriculture Minister Photis Photiou.

"Unfortunately, one farm has many cattle, the number could be as many as 1,500 animals, while the second farm has around 70," the minister told reporters.

He said that entire herds would have to be destroyed if even only one animal had the clinical symptoms. "Everyone must realise that whatever measures we take is only done to avoid a greater disaster from happening," Photiou added.

The latest cull will bring the total number of animals killed so far to more than 2,000. Some 600 sheep and goats had already been slaughtered.

Definitive laboratory results from Britain confirmed the outbreak of foot and mouth on Cyprus on November 5. EU experts are on the island to ensure all precautionary measures are taken.

The European Commission has issued an export ban on Cyprus meat and dairy products, while imposing a blanket ban on the transport of cattle across the island. Exports of the distinctive white halloumi cheese have escaped the ban.

The government has already issued emergency financial compensation to farmers affected by the outbreak.

Cypriot authorities have established a three-kilometre (two-mile) protection zone around the farms at the centre of the outbreak, while also enforcing a wider 10-kilometre surveillance zone.

An estimated 150,000 animals are within the two zones, representing a sizeable chunk of the island's total livestock, but Photiou said there is no evidence to suggest that FMD has spread beyond the three kilometres.

In total, there are more than 5,000 livestock units on the island.

Culled animals are being buried on the spot at the suspected sites as part an EU-monitored action plan to contain the highly contagious disease, which was last reported in Cyprus in 1963.

The cause of the outbreak is still unknown.

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