Russia Investigates Contaminated Dog Vaccine Linked to Mass Pet Deaths
Authorities say that samples from a batch of the vaccine contained live Aujeszky’s disease virus, which is almost universally fatal to domestic dogs.
Russian authorities have initiated a criminal probe into the distribution of a tainted canine vaccine, Multican-8, which has reportedly caused the deaths of over a hundred dogs in Russia since August. Inspectors found a counterfeit certificate for a batch of the vaccine in a state electronic database, though the manufacturer's identity remains undisclosed.
Moscow-based pharmaceutical firm Vetbiochim, the producer of Multican-8, is under scrutiny. Over 169 dogs have reportedly perished across the country, primarily in the Yaroslavl region, after receiving doses of the vaccine. Samples of Multican-8 contained the Aujeszky's disease virus, which is almost invariably fatal to dogs. Vetbiochim recalled several batches of the vaccine in late August following initial reports of illness and fatalities.
The company stated it is co-operating fully with the investigation and has launched an internal audit to ascertain how the contaminated batch and falsified documentation were released. Vetbiochim expressed its commitment to an objective investigation to identify those responsible and ensure accountability. The company aims to facilitate a thorough examination to identify those responsible and ensure appropriate consequences are met.
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