Professor Warns of Critical Livestock Disease Threat from Russia

A professor has raised alarm over the emergence of 'unknown' livestock diseases in Kazakhstan, which appear suspiciously linked to the transit or import of animals. He cited the 2016 outbreak of lumpy skin disease in the Atyrau region as a prime example.

The academic criticized the veterinary service for failing to sufficiently tighten border controls following that incident, pointing to new cases already recorded in 2026. In January, a shipment of cattle from Kabardino-Balkaria was turned back at the 'Tazhen' checkpoint. At the 'Kurmangazy' post, livestock from North Ossetia–Alania was suspected of carrying foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). On February 1st, animals from Altai Krai at the 'Sharbakty' post also showed signs of dangerous diseases and were sent back.

"The veterinary service of Kazakhstan made considerable efforts and invested significant material resources to stabilize the epizootic situation," stated the professor. "However, this did not serve as a lesson for veterinary management at the border and in transport, which should have tightened control at border veterinary checkpoints back then. Situations with transboundary pathologies in various regions of Kazakhstan have been recorded in 2026 as well. The epizootic situation with the particularly dangerous foot-and-mouth disease in neighboring Russia is extremely unfavorable."

He emphasized that inaction posed a threat to national security. Consequently, specialists convinced authorities of the necessity to close borders for the movement of animals and livestock products across Kazakhstan's territory.

In February, Kazakhstan imposed a ban on importing live cattle and meat from Altai Krai; Russia's North Caucasian Federal District (Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia–Alania, Chechnya, Stavropol Krai); Kalmykia; Buryatia; and Astrakhan and Novosibirsk Oblasts.

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has deemed this measure unlawful.