Russia's food safety and sanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor imposed on Wednesday, Feb 1, a temporary ban on cattle from several EU states following the spread of the highly virulent Schmallenberg virus, RIA Novosti reported.

"A temporary ban on import of cattle and a genetic material from them from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France ... has been imposed from February 1, 2012," the watchdog said in a statement.

The Russian service also confirmed previously imposed bans on cattle and small livestock imports from the UK and France.

Schmallenberg virus, named after the German city where it was first identified in August 2011, is spread by blood-sucking insects. Clinically the infection causes fever, gastrointestinal disorder, a sharp drop of milk production and miscarriages.