Rosselkhoznadzor to suggest further Schmallenberg virus talks with IOE
MOSCOW. Feb 18 (Interfax) - Russia's Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) will turn to the International Office of Epizootics (IOE, an organization dedicated to animal health) to request further discussion of the spread of Schmallenberg virus in Europe.
"In the near future we will sent the IOE a letter requesting additional discussion of the problems associated with Schmallenberg virus, as the situation is of serious concern to us," Rosselkhoznadzor chief Sergei Dankvert told Interfax.
The IOE has to be aware that the virus is spreading very rapidly, the consequences of which are unstudied, Dankvert said. "The situation is not yet so clear as several experts are attempting to assure us, saying that the virus is not so dangerous as it appears at first glance," he said.
Dankvert said he plans to discuss the situation with IOE head Bernard Vallat during the latter's upcoming visit to Moscow.
The import of livestock infected with the virus has already been registered in the Customs Union. Last September, 722 cows from Austria were imported to two rural farms in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh government issued a resolution ordering their slaughter and that of their offspring.
The virus was first identified late last year by German researchers when a sample arrived from the town of Schmallenberg, about 80 kilometers northeast of Cologne. The virus has been spreading fast to other European countries. The virus is under-researched.
