Dr. Nikolay Valsov, Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, of the Russian Federation Ministry of Agriculture, reported to the World Veterinary Health Organization (OIE)on an isolated outbreak of vvND in the Republic of Chechnya.

The epidemiologic and commercial significance of this outbreak is unknown, but the episode suggests that vvND is present in Chechnya and based on reports over the past three years, may well be endemic in the Russian Federation.  It appears that Russian officialdom only reports outbreaks in small flocks. Annual company reports may tell a different story.