Susanna Riva Authorities in the Moscow region have imposed a quarantine after the detection of knotty skin disease in livestock in several towns and villages located about 25 kilometers from Moscow. This measure was announced in a document published on the regional government's website on Wednesday.
Knotty skin disease is a viral infection that spreads primarily through biting insects and affects livestock.
Symptoms include fever, painful skin bumps, weakening of the animals, and reduced milk production. It's important to note that this disease does not infect humans.
Containment measures in the Moscow region
The Moscow Region regional government's order banned the transportation of livestock, dairy products such as milk, and feed to and from the quarantined zone.
In addition, agricultural fairs in the affected area have been suspended.
The disease, which is prevalent mainly in North Africa, was detected in several European countries last year. In France, authorities ordered the culling of infected cows, sparking protests from farming associations.
Critical situation in the Irkutsk region
Earlier this week, authorities in the Irkutsk region, near Lake Baikal in Siberia, imposed a quarantine for knotty skin disease in two settlements.
It has been announced that infected animals will have to be culled.
An outbreak of livestock diseases, officially identified as pasteurellosis or rabies, in Siberia this spring led to mass culling of livestock and sparked rare protests by local farmers.
Reactions from the local community
In the Irkutsk region, eight outbreaks have been identified in the villages of Butyrki and Koty. Leonid Frolov, head of the district, indicated that the suspected cause is the illegal import of sheep and goats. Local media reported that the disease has been detected in at least 96 livestock.
Authorities promised compensation for the seized animals: 224 rubles per kilogram for cattle, 307 rubles for sheep and goats, and 190 rubles for pigs. However, Butyrki residents expressed concern during a meeting with government officials, arguing that the compensation offered would not cover their losses. They demanded full compensation for the value of the seized animals.
Residents also objected to the destruction of livestock near their homes, as reported by the Russian news channel 7×7.
Previous cases in other regions
Mass seizures of livestock from farmers have occurred repeatedly over the past year. On August 12, authorities in the Tyumen region began seizing pigs from farmers and slaughtering them, citing a "very dangerous" but unspecified disease. In the spring, authorities in the Kemerovo region began mass slaughters of livestock, attributing them to knotty skin disease. In February, authorities seized livestock from farmers in the Novosibirsk region; the cause was later determined to be foot and mouth disease.