Nenets children. Credit: Press Service of Yamalo-Nenetsk Governor's Office, Yamal Region
Via The Siberian Times: 20 people now infected by zombie anthrax outbreak in Siberia, say officials. Excerpt:
Today 90 people, including 54 children, are in hospital following the anthrax emergency on the Yamal Peninsula in northern Siberia. The 20 confirmed cases is a dramatic rise on yesterday's total of eight.
Numbers of those in hospital also exceed the total of 64 herders and their families who were at the apex of the infection, suggesting that the 'at risk' circle is now wider than the nomads at a camp at Yar-Sale in Yamalski district where the disease was identified.
Russia's chief epidemiologist Lyudmila Volova said today: '20 people of 90 hospitalised have contracted anthrax. Two-thirds of them have the skin form of the disease, which is most straightforward to cure. The others have more complicated intestinal form.' Natalya Khlopunova, the local governor's spokesperson, said that all those in hospital 'are showing good signs'. Pictures:
The medical crisis was caused after reindeer became contaminated with zombie anthrax bacteria which had been frozen in the Siberian permafrost.
Experts say the anthrax was embedded in a human or reindeer corpse, and that unusually hot summer weather in this Arctic location, awoke the deadly infection which had been dormant since at least 1941, when the last outbreak occurred.
Almost 2,500 reindeer died from the epidemic in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region, an area famed for its high quality venison. A 12 year old boy died on Saturday after eating infected reindeer meat, and drinking blood from the animal, say reports.
His grandmother perished a day earlier, but it is as yet unclear if she was an anthrax victim.
Natalya Khlopunova, the local governor's spokesperson, said that all those in hospital 'are showing good signs. Doctors are monitoring their condition round the clock'. A 12 year old boy died after eating infected reindeer meat, and drinking blood from the animal.
Despite this rare sign of hope, the authorities now have two key concerns. The first is fear for the survival of those now suffering from the intestinal form of the disease.
The second is the deep concern that anthrax could spread to other areas of Russia.
A major operation involving Russia's bio-warfare troops is underway to incinerate at high temperatures the carcasses of the dead infected reindeer. 70 reindeer corpses were 'eliminated' on Tuesday morning.
A key danger is the spread of infected meat, which is the main carrier of the infection. The specific risk is black market meat from poachers. The regional government last night banned the export of any meat, antlers, or skins from the Yamalski district.
