Authorities in western Siberia’s Tyumen region have begun forcibly seizing and culling domestic pigs across several rural villages following an outbreak of an undisclosed disease, the local outlet 72.ru reported Wednesday.
As part of quarantine measures imposed Friday, disinfection checkpoints manned by police have reportedly been set up along Golyshmanovsky District roads to spray passing vehicles and prevent pork products from leaving the area.
Video shared by the outlet showed men in hazmat suits spraying vehicles and photographs of them inspecting pigsties.
Local veterinary officials reportedly refused to name the pathogen publicly, saying access to the information is restricted, while residents claimed it is being referred to as an “extraordinarily dangerous disease.”
According to 72.ru, local agricultural experts believe the outbreak is likely African swine fever, a viral disease with a nearly 100% mortality rate among pigs but harmless to humans.
Similar culls were carried out last September in the neighboring Vikulovsky District following an African swine fever outbreak, the outlet said.
Rural residents expressed anger about the forced confiscation of their pigs, telling 72.ru that the animals were injected and incinerated without clear documentation or specific compensation figures.
Local administration officials reportedly promised market-rate compensation during Monday’s town hall meeting, but warned that hiding animals from veterinary crews would carry steep fines.
An official added that residents in affected areas are barred from raising pigs for at least one year.
The incident follows a similar livestock culling after a pasteurellosis outbreak in the Novosibirsk region earlier this year. That quarantine, which triggered public protests, was lifted in June.
