Under the control of Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia Maksim Uvaidov there were command-staff exercises on localization and elimination of a conditional epizootic focus of foot and mouth disease - a particularly dangerous viral disease that occurs both in animals and humans.
Exercises were held in one of the farms of Shpakovsky district. The disease is dangerous not only for cattle, but also for humans, so all stages of the response were carried out in special protective suits. As part of the exercise, specialists identified signs of foot-and-mouth disease in sheep and took blood samples of animals. Professional veterinarians are needed to quickly and qualitatively eliminate the outbreak of the disease. Stavropol Agrarian University trains them.
- Our university annually trains dozens of veterinary specialists for whom such exercises are exemplary. I am sure that our graduates know all the algorithms of actions in case of epidemiological danger, - said Vladimir Sitnikov, Rector of the Stavropol State Agrarian University.
The event brought together dozens of specialists from Russia. All the stages of preventing the spread of the disease were demonstrated to the participants. It also tested the readiness to work of disinfection techniques and equipment, as well as the material provision of the units with equipment, tools and overalls. The exercises allowed to work out the procedure in case of a real infection.
- It is better to train in a quiet period, to see how the veterinary service works, how the federal, regional and municipal authorities work. At that moment, when an outbreak occurs, it is important to act in unity. Today we have seen that the work is well organized, the service has quite good staffing, means, equipment, everything is enough, - said Deputy Minister of Agriculture Maxim Uvaidov.
