Siberian Anthrax Outbreaks From Thaw Now Up To 3; Blackflies, Mosqutoes May Be Disease Vectors

[hatrack]

The Yamalo-Nenets region has suffered not one but three separate outbreaks of lethal anthrax since 7 July, with bloodsucking insects - especially gadflies and mosquitoes - playing a key role in the spread, we can confirm. A strong new warning from scientists suggests that there is a 'dangerous' risk of infection across this entire permafrost area.

There was worldwide coverage last month when Russian bio- and chemical-warfare troops were deployed to deal with the first case of the infection since 1941. Now it is clear that there were a total of two outbreaks on the Yamal peninsula, and a third east of the Gulf of Ob. Previously, only one focal point was acknowledged, around Lake Yarato.



Now scientists say that the epicentre of this initial outbreak was in a privately-owned herd of reindeer at nearby Lake Pisyoto on 7 July, while a second outbreak occurred some 100 kilometres or 62 miles southeast at Novy Port, on the Gulf of Ob.

The last, where the infection was detected on 3 August, was at Pyakyakhinskaya in Tazovsky district, a distance of some 250 km or 155 miles east of the original infection. Our map shows the three locations. Officials say that the summer anthrax infections led to one fatality, a 12 year old boy, along with the death of 2,349 reindeer and at least four dogs.

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http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/features/f0253-deadly-anthrax-infection-spread-250-kilometres-in-15-days-due-to-mosquitoes/