The outbreaks were reported in Krasnodar Krai, the Republics of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. As a result, around 8,000 head of cattle have been culled.
The situation is complicated by the fact that this is a new strain of FMD, which is not sensitive to current vaccines, and the country’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, has revealed plans to ban the export of cattle from the south of the country both abroad and to other parts of the country.
“In September, Rosselkhoznadzor will ban the export of live cattle from the North Caucasus and Southern federal districts to prevent the further spread of foot-and-mouth disease,” said Rosselkhoznadzor spokesperson Alexei Alekseyenko.
He added that the measure was necessary to prevent the spread of the disease and avoid a repetition of the situation the country is facing with African swine fever.
Rosselkhoznadzor said restrictions were scheduled for the autumn because this is when cattle return from the pastures, increasing the possibility of new outbreaks. It added that the Russian Federal Centre for Animal Health had begun work on developing a special vaccine for the new strain of FMD.
Experts have warned that the movement restrictions will have big economic consequences for producers in the south, which usually sell their products in central Russia.
“The main consuming regions are located in the European part of the country, where all of the largest cities are concentrated. Even if the restrictions do not last for the long-term, the economic impact on businesses from this ban will be extremely negative,” claimed local farmer Alexandr Vasilev.