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Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080701/112664562.html
Eight in hospital with suspected anthrax in East Siberia -2
11:53 | 01/ 07/ 2008
(Updates the number of infected, recasts throughout, adds information in paras 2-4, 6-10)
IRKUTSK, July 1 (RIA Novosti) - Eight people have been hospitalized in the East Siberian Republic of Buryatia with suspected anthrax, the republic's emergencies ministry said on Tuesday.
Three more people, who developed symptoms similar to skin anthrax, have been hospitalized suspected of suffering with the disease following a medical examination.
The source said earlier in the day that five patients, who culled a bull a week ago, were hospitalized on Sunday with a fever and rash, which usually occurs in those infected with skin anthrax. The results of lab tests are expected back by Thursday.
Diagnosis of skin anthrax, the least dangerous form of the disease, was officially confirmed in two patients. The health of other six is being monitored.
As opposed to lung and gastrointestinal forms of the disease, skin anthrax is rarely fatal if treated, but without treatment about 20% of skin infection cases lead to sepsis and subsequent death.
Though no quarantine was introduced in the republic's Barguzinsky Region, medics have been put on high alert and meat supplies from several villages, close to a potential source of infection have been suspended.
Vets along with experts from Russia's consumers rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor and the republic's interior ministry are trying to establish the source of infection. The region has several livestock disposal sites where infected cattle were buried in 1930-1960.
In a separate development, a state of emergency was introduced on Tuesday in the Ketchenerovsky District of the southern Russian Republic of Kalmykia, where a total of five sheep and goats have died of anthrax since June 18.
"A 15-day quarantine has been introduced at a farm where the animals died," a source in the republic's emergencies ministry said.
Local vets have carried out a decontamination of the farm and are currently monitoring the health of the animals where the outbreak occurred. All livestock at neighboring farms have been vaccinated.
Anthrax most commonly infects wild mammals and domestic cattle and sheep, which ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Humans can be affected when exposed to blood and other tissues from infected animals.
Anthrax can be highly lethal, but in some forms it responds well to antibiotic treatment. There are effective vaccines available against the disease.
Eight in hospital with suspected anthrax in East Siberia -2
11:53 | 01/ 07/ 2008
(Updates the number of infected, recasts throughout, adds information in paras 2-4, 6-10)
IRKUTSK, July 1 (RIA Novosti) - Eight people have been hospitalized in the East Siberian Republic of Buryatia with suspected anthrax, the republic's emergencies ministry said on Tuesday.
Three more people, who developed symptoms similar to skin anthrax, have been hospitalized suspected of suffering with the disease following a medical examination.
The source said earlier in the day that five patients, who culled a bull a week ago, were hospitalized on Sunday with a fever and rash, which usually occurs in those infected with skin anthrax. The results of lab tests are expected back by Thursday.
Diagnosis of skin anthrax, the least dangerous form of the disease, was officially confirmed in two patients. The health of other six is being monitored.
As opposed to lung and gastrointestinal forms of the disease, skin anthrax is rarely fatal if treated, but without treatment about 20% of skin infection cases lead to sepsis and subsequent death.
Though no quarantine was introduced in the republic's Barguzinsky Region, medics have been put on high alert and meat supplies from several villages, close to a potential source of infection have been suspended.
Vets along with experts from Russia's consumers rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor and the republic's interior ministry are trying to establish the source of infection. The region has several livestock disposal sites where infected cattle were buried in 1930-1960.
In a separate development, a state of emergency was introduced on Tuesday in the Ketchenerovsky District of the southern Russian Republic of Kalmykia, where a total of five sheep and goats have died of anthrax since June 18.
"A 15-day quarantine has been introduced at a farm where the animals died," a source in the republic's emergencies ministry said.
Local vets have carried out a decontamination of the farm and are currently monitoring the health of the animals where the outbreak occurred. All livestock at neighboring farms have been vaccinated.
Anthrax most commonly infects wild mammals and domestic cattle and sheep, which ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Humans can be affected when exposed to blood and other tissues from infected animals.
Anthrax can be highly lethal, but in some forms it responds well to antibiotic treatment. There are effective vaccines available against the disease.
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