7 Dec 2022 19:52

Govt proposes setting up mobile veterinary teams in Russian regions - roadmap

MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax) - The Russian government has endorsed a roadmap to improve the country's veterinary safety system, which, in particular, provides for the creation of mobile veterinary teams and their provision with equipment required to tackle dangerous foci of animal diseases, the government said in a press release.

This primarily concerns efforts to counter African swine fever, highly pathogenic avian flu and foot-and-mouth disease. The roadmap includes both measures that have already been implemented in Russia to prevent outbreaks of particularly dangerous animal diseases, which will be continued, and new measures for veterinary safety in general, in particular the establishment of mobile veterinary teams.

The government also recommended that the regions provide regular diagnostic tests to identify sick animals and perform laboratory tests for infectious diseases. Besides, the regional authorities jointly with the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) are recommended to open a hotline, where individuals and organizations will be able to report any cases of disease in animals.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, 132 outbreaks of African swine fever with 40 of them being active were registered in Russia between January 1 and December 5.