FMD under сontrol: enhanced FMD surveillance in the Russian Federation results in the WOAH Official Recognition of Zone Western Siberia – Urals as FMD-free

Introduction. Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the key threats to global animal welfare and international economic relations. Like any other transboundary animal disease, it shall be notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in accordance with the relevant international standards. By 2016, the largest part of the territory of the Russian Federation (i. e. 50 subjects and 2 federal cities) had been recognized by the WOAH as an FMD-free zone without vaccination. From 2021 to 2023, 4 more zones of the country were granted the status of freedom from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination. At the end of 2024, only 10 subjects of the Russian Federation, all located within zone Western Siberia – Urals, lacked official recognition.Objective. Descriptive analysis of the animal health situation in the Russian Federation from 2021 to 2024: substantiating success of the Rosselkhoznadzor’s systematic approach to regionalization in accordance with the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code.Materials and methods. Various information sources were used to collect and analyze materials on the animal health situation in Russia, including the USSR archives, veterinary reports, and the WOAH statistics.Results. FMD situation was analyzed in 10 subjects of the Russian Federation bordering on the Republic of Kazakhstan, with an emphasis on FMD control measures, regionalization and zoning. This section focuses on distribution of statuses across Russia’s administrative subjects and the historical records on the disease outbreaks. It also outlines regulatory and surveillance measures implemented by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (the Rosselkhoznadzor) to manage the FMD status in various regions, taking into account the prophylactic measures implemented in place. The paper describes these measures and their results step-by-step, showing a dynamic improvement of the FMD surveillance system.Conclusion. On 29 May 2025, at the 92nd WOAH General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates, Zone Western Siberia – Urals was officially recognized as a foot and-mouth disease-free zone with vaccination. This decision completes the process of structuring the territory of the Russian Federation into 6 zones. The WOAH-granted disease-freedom statuses confirm efficacy of the preventive and surveillance measures, which is crucial to ensure global epizootic stability. These accomplishments result from the efforts jointly taken by the Rosselkhoznadzor and its subordinate institution the Federal Centre for Animal Health.