Belarus to restrict import of sheep and goats from Leningrad region of Russia due to smallpox

October 20, Minsk. Belarus restricts the import of sheep and goats from the Leningrad region of Russia due to smallpox. Such information is posted on the website of the Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, BelTA informs.

According to the World Organization for Animal Health, cases of sheep and goat pox have been registered in the region. In this regard, from October 26, temporary restrictions are introduced on the import to Belarus from this region of slaughter, breeding and user sheep and goats, wild, zoo and circus small artiodactyls (goats, argali, fallow deer, tours, mouflons, ibexes, roe deer), milk and dairy products from these animals, leather, horn-hoofed, lambskin raw materials, wool, goat down, etc.

All previously issued permits for the import of these goods into Belarus from the Leningrad Region are suspended.

The Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food informs: it is necessary to strengthen biological protection measures for livestock facilities of all forms of ownership.

Smallpox of sheep and goats is a highly contagious, especially dangerous disease characterized by fever and the formation of papular-pustular lesions in the epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes. Smallpox affects sheep of all ages and breeds, especially fine-wooled sheep. Under natural conditions, sheep are more likely to become infected when healthy animals come into contact with sick ones. Among goats, animals of dairy and fine-fleeced breeds are most susceptible to the disease. If with a benign form of smallpox mortality does not exceed 2-3%, then with confluent and hemorrhagic it reaches 100%.