Re: Omsk, Russia: Anthrax outbreak
http://www.promedmail.org/pls/apex/..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,83979
Archive Number 20100805.2641
Published Date 05-AUG-2010
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax, human, equine - Russia: (OM) dumplings
ANTHRAX, HUMAN, EQUINE - RUSSIA: (OMSK) DUMPLINGS
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[1]
Date: Tue 3 Aug 2010
Source: The Moscow Times [edited]
<http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/anthrax-death-linked-to-pelmeni/411549.html>
One man died and 5 others were hospitalized after contracting anthrax
at a farm in the Omsk region that supplied horse meat for pelmeni
sold in Moscow and other regions, Interfax reported Monday [3 Aug 2010].
All 6 victims fell ill after being hired to cut meat from diseased
animals, said Gennady Onishchenko, head of the Federal Consumer
Protection Service. Horses started dying at the farm in June [2010],
but the farm's owners hid the deaths, he said.
Lifenews.ru said about 2.5 tons of horse meat with anthrax were
supplied to Darina, a prominent pelmeni producer. The meat was
confiscated, as were shipments of the company's pelmeni in the
Moscow, Omsk, Tyumen, Sverdlovsk, and Tver regions, the Novy Region
news agency reported.
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[Pelmeni are small flour and water dumplings. The 'pastry' is rolled
very thin and is stuffed with mushrooms, onions, and whatever meat is
available including horse, cut up fine. They are a Siberian dish,
probably a left over from Ghengis Khan! They are boiled and are eaten
in soup or by themselves. Very popular with hunters as they can be
carried. There is no sweet version of pelmeni. These men were
infected butchering sick horses. But read on. - Mod.MHJ]
*****
[2]
Date: Tue 3 Aug 2010
Source: RT.com/TV-Novosti [in Spanish, trans., edited]
<http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/rusia/issue_11974.html>
Doctors in the Siberian city of Omsk examined 127 individuals who are
possibly suffering from anthrax.
According to the local health minister, between 28 and 30 Jul 2010, 6
people from the province of Omsk were hospitalized with a preliminary
diagnosis of anthrax, and 2 of them with confirmation of this
diagnosis. On 1 Aug 2010 one of them died.
It was established that all the possibly infected individuals work in
a meat production plant and could have been infected by some animals.
All 127 people threatened by the disease, including 83 residents of
the city of Omsk, must undergo medical observation.
As explained by the Omsk province prosecutor general's office, the
cause of the outbreak of anthrax was a violation of health and
biosafety rules. Meanwhile, [authorities] are investigating whether
infected meat has already been sold.
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[3]
Date: Tue 3 Aug 2010
Source: RT.com/TV-Novosti [edited]
<http://rt.com/prime-time/2010-08-03/anthrax-outbreak-hits-siberia.html>
More than 100 people are under quarantine after a deadly anthrax
outbreak in the Omsk region of Siberia. While doctors are trying to
contain the disease, the investigation has found out that all of
those infected worked for a horse farm and took part in the latest
slaughter of -- as it turned out -- ill animals.
"In the course of our check, we found out that there were violations
of sanitary regulations in this household," Larisa Boldinova, from
the prosecutor general's Office, told RT. "Moreover, the workers in
the slaughterhouse were not vaccinated against anthrax." The owner of
the farm where the infected meat came from has already been charged
with sanitary violations.
"The farm is in a very bad state -- we have started disinfection,"
said Gennady Onishchenko, Russia's chief medical health officer. "And
the area it is located in, Tukalinsk district in Omsk region, has a
bad history of anthrax outbreaks. Since 1929, a lot of infected
animals have been buried there."
According to local media, the infected horses could have been
illegally brought from Kazakhstan.
About 2.5 tons of horse meat have already been sent to a "Darina"
meat factory that produces a range of products, including pelmeni and
pancakes, which are sold in a number of Russian regions.
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[4]
Date: Wed 4 Aug 2010
Source: Tatar-inform [edited]
<http://eng.tatar-inform.ru/news/2010/08/04/30945/>
About 130 people have been hospitalized in an apparent anthrax
outbreak in Russia's Siberian city of Omsk, the regional Health
Ministry said Tuesday [3 Aug 2010], reports Xinhua. The ministry said
83 of those being treated may have been infected while processing
meat infected by the deadly disease.
Experts say some of the infected meat may have already reached grocery shelves.
The incident followed an anthrax outbreak in Omsk last Saturday [31
Jul 2010] that resulted in the death of a local resident. 2 human
anthrax cases were confirmed in the outbreak, with another 4
suspected cases awaiting test results.
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[5]
Date: Tue 3 Aug 2010
Source: News Reporter [edited]
<http://bmpost.com/10969.html>
According to health minister Yuri Erofeev, as reported to Interfax,
medical checks are being conducted in 130 Omsk residents suspected of
having contracted anthrax. According to the minister, there are
currently 6 patients in the Omsk Infectious Diseases Hospital. One of
them -- a 28-year-old man -- is in a state of moderate severity and
the rest are in satisfactory condition. Previously, anthrax was
diagnosed in 2 people of whom one died on 1 Aug 2010.
Most of those tested for anthrax, were in one way or another in
contact with the hospitalized patients. The individuals who were
hospitalized were workers engaged in the slaughter of horses. It is
known that 10 infected carcasses arrived at LLC Darina, a meat
factory. RIA Novosti reported that according to the regional
prosecutor's office part of the meat went to recycling and the rest was seized.
On 3 Aug 2010 it was announced that the dumplings labeled "Russian"
and "Special" made by Darina between 13 and 28 Jul 2010, would be
destroyed. According to the chief veterinary officer of the Omsk
Region, Vladimira Okolelova, this is done because of possible contact
of the employees with the affected meat. According to RIA Novosti,
the Darina company makes dumplings, stuffing, soup sets, meat pies,
and pancakes, which are supplied to different regions of Russia.
Earlier, the chief sanitary inspector of Russia, Gennady Onishchenko,
Russia said that 14.3 tons of "Russian" and "Special" dumplings [had
been shipped] to Nizhnevartovsk [Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region],
about 11 tons to Tver and Khanty-Mansiysk, and 500 pounds to Moscow.
Omsk medical checks of 130 residents of the area for the presence of
anthrax, Interfax reported with reference to the regional Health
Minister Yuri Erofeev. According to him, the Infectious Diseases
Hospital of Omsk are now in six patients. One of them -- 28-year-old
man - is in a state of moderate severity, the rest -- in a
satisfactory condition. Previously, anthrax was diagnosed in two
people. August 1st one of them died.
Most of those tested for anthrax, one way or another in contact with
Omsk people hospitalized. Total hospital for two weeks, will place
124 people who are mostly colleagues hospitalized for work, as well
as members of their families. Located in the infectious diseases
hospital people were engaged in slaughtering horses. It is known that
the 10 infected carcasses arrived in LLC "Darina". As RIA Novosti
reported with reference to the regional prosecutor's office, part of
the meat went to recycling, the rest was seized.
3 August [2010] it became known that the dumplings "Russian" and
"Special" made "Darina" from 13 to July 28 [2010], will be destroyed.
According to Chief of the Veterinary Omsk Region Vladimir Okolelova,
this is done because of possible contact with the employees affected
meat. As the RIA Novosti, the company "Darina" makes dumplings,
stuffings, soup sets, belyash and pancakes. Of our products in
different regions of Russia. Earlier, the chief sanitary doctor,
Gennady Onishchenko, Russia said that in Nizhnevartovsk horrible 14.3
ton ravioli "The Russian" and "Special", about 11 tons -- in Tver and
Khanty-Mansiysk, 500 pounds - to Moscow.
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[(This last report has been edited extensively as the machine
translation was difficult at best. - Mod.MPP/Sr. Tech.Ed. MJ). All in
all some 2.5 metric tons of contaminated horse meat were processed.
While not all made its way to dumplings, it would seem to have been
widely distributed, possibly even to Moscow.
To see a recipe for pelmeni, go to <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelmeni>.
As my colleague SB comments: "They [pelmeni] are not difficult to
make and I make them to eat in the winter, they are very good I
think, but whether a Russian would recognise my efforts I do not
know. Some make them with mixed meats, and it is quite possible that
the horse meat was to mix in with say lamb and pork or whatever meats
were available." - Mod.MHJ]
