Russia Culls Thousands of Cattle Amid Deadly Pasteurellosis and Rabies Outbreaks

Russian farmers in the Altai Krai, Penza, and Novosibirsk regions, among others, are facing the seizure of thousands of cows and other animals under the pretext of controlling outbreaks of pasteurellosis and rabies. Causes and Scale of Infection Reports of pasteurellosis among livestock began emerging in late 2025. In Novosibirsk, officials attributed the outbreak to excessive snowfall during winter. According to the local Ministry of Agriculture, the lack of food forced wild animals carrying the disease to approach settlements, infecting domestic herds. The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) also cited abnormal winter cold and temperature swings that stressed animals and weakened their immune systems. Since February, livestock seizures from farmers and agricultural enterprises have been reported. On March 16, authorities declared a state of emergency in the region due to rabies and pasteurellosis outbreaks. Animals in affected zones are subject to culling to prevent further spread of disease.