Siberian heat wave unleashes deadly 'zombie anthrax' outbreak

[Sunlei]

At least 90 people have been hospitalized from an anthrax outbreak in Russia, including 50 children. Eight are confirmed as infected with anthrax. Doctors believe at least 6 patients have the more virulent intestinal form of the disease, which killed one boy, age 12. Authorities say it's the first fatal anthrax outbreak in Russia in more than 75 years.

The outbreak originated in a Siberian community after a heat wave melted the permafrost where spores of anthrax remained alive inside the frozen carcass of an infected reindeer. Animals fed on that thawed carcass, which may have been up to a hundred years old, then transmitted it to reindeer that nomadic herders killed and ate.

The deadly bacteria is also indicated in the mysterious deaths of thousands of reindeer in the region--various reports have placed the total number of dead animals at up to 2,500.

The outbreak happened in the Yamalo-Nenets region of Western Siberia, where an unusual heat wave brought temperatures up to 82 degrees for 18 consecutive days in July. Temperatures in the Yamal tundra above the Arctic Circle have hit highs of 95 degrees this summer, compared to an average of 77 degrees.

https://boingboing.net/2016/08/03/siberian-heat-wave-unleashes-d.html

[petronius]

1. Makes me want to watch Fortitude again

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3498622/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt



Sad story, and fascinating but morbid facet of climate change...

[NobodyHere]

2. Zombie Anthrax would be a great name for a band

[d_r]

3. like an Anthrax tribute cover band