Russian MoD: Russian avian flu outbreaks cause concern over US experience in Ukraine
MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. Avian influenza outbreaks in Russia are of concern in connection with the experiments that were carried out in the Askania-Nova nature reserve in Kherson, commissioned by the United States. This was stated on Friday by the head of the troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection (RCBZ) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov.
He drew attention to the fact of the mass death of birds on the territory of the reserve in the Kherson region in 2021. The Ukrainian side offered the employees of the institution a large monetary reward for the removal or destruction of the results of studies of avian influenza strains conducted there. Kirillov stressed that Washington is the customer for such projects.
"Against this background, of particular concern is the increase in the incidence of avian influenza in Russia and in European countries, where, according to the International Epizootic Bureau, the disease has acquired a year-round character, and losses from it since 2021 have exceeded € 3 billion. Since the beginning of this year in Russia 32 outbreaks of avian influenza were recorded in all federal districts. In the last week alone, the disease was detected at enterprises in the Kirov and Yaroslavl regions. Since May 17, 2023, quarantine measures for highly pathogenic avian influenza have been introduced in Moscow," Kirillov said during a briefing on military biological US activities.
Specialists of the Ministry of Defense, together with employees of the Federal Security Service and Rosselkhoznadzor, confirmed the facts of the collection and certification of strains of the bird flu virus in the Askania-Nova Reserve, including the H5N8 strain, the lethality of which when transmitted to humans can reach 40%, the lieutenant general said.
"Even in the samples subjected to destruction, traces of the genetic material of highly pathogenic avian influenza, Newcastle disease virus, avuloviruses were found," the head of the RCBZ troops listed.
Earlier, Kirillov reported that the main objectives of the research carried out in Askania-Nova were the collection and transfer of strains of especially dangerous and economically significant infections to the US military department.
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