Published Date: 2003-12-22 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax, meat import restrictions - Russia
Archive Number: 20031222.3115
ANTHRAX, MEAT IMPORT RESTRICTIONS - RUSSIA
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A ProMED-mail post
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ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Sun, 21 Dec 2003 22:06:36 PST
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 22:06:36 -0800 (PST)
From: ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>
Source: AKIpress, 19 Dec 2003 [edited, translated by Mod.NR]
<http://www.akipress.org/datanew1.php?tab=news&numb=9869>
Import of meat to Russia from Kyrgyzia and other countries of Central
Asia is prohibited
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Meat from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will not
appear in markets in the Nijegorod oblast of Russia in the [near
future]. This import limit on all meat products is because of the
threat of anthrax. This information was [obtained] from the Nijegorod
oblast veterinary surveillance chief Valeriy Dushkin report [at] the
press conference on 19 Dec 2003.
Altogether [in] 2003, 10 [?] locations with anthrax were identified:
Orenburg, Penza, Lipezk, Rostov, Omsk, Volgograd, Republic of
Chechnya, and Republic of Tatarstan. Foot and mouth disease cases
were registered in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, according
to Valeriy Dushkin.
[At the] present time [the] situation with anthrax in Nijegorod
oblast is under control due to [the rapid] measures taken against
[the] epizootics. However, there is still a potential threat of
anthrax, said Valeriy Dushkov
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Thanks to Mod.NR for this report. Note the reference to FMD
outbreaks in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This Russian
action is somewhat overdue and meets a long-felt need. We have had
over the years a number of reports of under-inspected meat products
being imported with their pathogens into Russia. It is to be hoped
that this action will result in the various Central Asian Republics
getting their domestic acts together to enforce their animal disease
control procedures (for FMD and anthrax) and upgrade their meat
inspection practices. This problem has been the basis of a long-time
complaint by the Russian authorities. - Mod.MHJ]