In the volunteer shelter “Lapka”, located in temporarily occupied Henichesk, an outbreak of deadly distemper was recorded.
This was reported by pro-Russian media.
“The virus is behaving abnormally: dogs are perishing within a day. Animals that were active yesterday are dying today from internal bleeding. One puppy is already dead, volunteers are fighting for the others”, – the post says.
Canine distemper (“chumka”) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems of animals, with mortality among unvaccinated individuals up to 80–90%. The virus is distinguished by extraordinary resilience in the external environment: it is transmitted not only through direct contact with a sick animal, but also via airborne droplets, and through shared bowls, bedding or even on people’s shoes and clothing. In hyperacute cases, as currently observed in Henichesk, the disease runs a fulminant course, causing internal bleeding and the death of a dog in just one day.
The only reliable method of protection is regular annual vaccination, since there is no specific treatment against the virus itself.
Recall, in January 2026 in the Skadovsk district the occupiers recorded the first case of avian influenza in 2026.