Anthrax in Siberia contained, vaccination process continues

The anthrax hotbed in Russia's northwestern Siberian Yamal peninsula which killed a teenager and put 90 people in hospital has been contained, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District said Thursday.

"There is no threat of the infection spreading further," said a statement issued by the press office of the district's governor.

All 90 people were in stable condition and most of them were found not to be infected with the virus.

After receiving treatment and vaccination, all will be evacuated from the infection area to places where specially equipped tents are provided, the statement said.

The outbreak has killed 2,349 reindeer, while more than 57,760 reindeer out of 700,000 had been vaccinated against the disease by Tuesday, it said, adding that so far no more deaths have been reported.

There have been 342 reindeer bodies destroyed so far alongside the vaccination process, the Interfax news agency said, quoting Col. Yaroslav Roshchupkin.

The disease is believed to have broken out as a result of an unusually hot summer.

Anthrax is quite common in domestic animals, but it can be passed to humans, resulting in skin lesion, breakdown of the respiratory system, blood poisoning and death, if left untreated.

The vaccination of people and animals against anthrax is likely to be carried out every year, the statement said. Endi