Officials have found foot-and-mouth disease in the east Siberian region of Zabaikalsky, Russia's Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection Service said Tuesday.
The virus affected cattle and pigs at private farms, service spokesman Alexei Alekseyenko said, adding that measures to prevent the disease from spreading have been taken.
"It was an Asian type of virus. Now we are checking on how it got into Russia," Alekseyenko said. The Zabaikalsky region borders China and Mongolia.
Last time Russia found foot-and-mouth disease was about a year ago in the Primorye region some 45 kilometers from the border with China.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly infectious and sometimes fatal disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo and pigs.
(Reuters)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
