Svetlana Arkhangelskaya, Russia beyond THe headlines
The Siberian plague
As global warming melts the permafrost, anthrax and other pathogens arise from their centuries-old slumber
Russian scientists have contained an outbreak of the Siberian plague, a bacterial infection known in the West as anthrax, but they believe global warming will bring back even more pathogens, such as those dormant in the frozen remains of mammoths.
In Russia's Far North, in the Yamalo-Nenets region, authorities have been fighting an outbreak of the Siberian plague, which is called anthrax in the West. More than 2,000 reindeer have died, and 90 local tribe members have been hospitalized, of which 53 are children. In the beginning of August, a 12-year old boy died in hospital.
"Children were infected as a reuslt of traditional customs," said Anna Popova, head of Russia's public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor. Some families in Yamalo-Nenets still drink deer blood and eat raw meat. In accordance with tradition, children remove the reindeer veins with their teeth. "They make threads out of reindeer blood vessels," Popova explained. She added that it was impossible to avoid infection in such a situation.
"Children were infected as a reuslt of traditional customs," said Anna Popova, head of Russia's public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor. Some families in Yamalo-Nenets still drink deer blood and eat raw meat. In accordance with tradition, children remove the reindeer veins with their teeth. "They make threads out of reindeer blood vessels," Popova explained. She added that it was impossible to avoid infection in such a situation.
Private property, such as teepees, sleighs, clothes, and household items were burned in order to contain the infection. A massive vaccination campaign is underway in the region for both people and animals. Drones are monitoring the situation from the air.
The worse anthrax outbreak in Russia (USSR) occurred in spring 1979 in Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), leaving 64 people dead. From 2009 to 2014, there were 40 recorded anthrax cases in Russia, 43 percent more than in the previous five years. The infections were recorded in the North Caucasus, and the South and Siberian districts.
Big mistake
Russia has not maintained the system for mandatory deer vaccination that existed in the Soviet Union
Anthrax spores are not destroyed by extreme cold temperatures, and can live for over 100 years.
The recent month-long temperatures of 35-degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) are the main reason for the epidemic in Yamal. The heat melted the top layer of the permafrost, which in some places contains anthrax spores. The spores are not destroyed by extreme cold temperatures, and can live for over 100 years.
The spores, along with reindeer moss, were ingested by animals already weakened by the heat. Also, the spores may have entered the water supply, something scientists are currently looking into.
The excess reindeer population is another problem. More than 700,000 raindeer live in the Yamal region – 44 percent of Russia's total herd. Scientists say that the region's pastures are big enough only for 100-150,000 animals.
The spores, along with reindeer moss, were ingested by animals already weakened by the heat. Also, the spores may have entered the water supply, something scientists are currently looking into.
The excess reindeer population is another problem. More than 700,000 raindeer live in the Yamal region – 44 percent of Russia's total herd. Scientists say that the region's pastures are big enough only for 100-150,000 animals.
"Too many deer hooves strike the land, destroying the vegetation cover, and this increases the threat of kicking up and spreading infection. The permafrost is exposed, and the reindeer ingest the infected dirt along with the plants."
Vladimir Bogdanov
Director of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Russian Academy of Science
Moreover, Russia has not maintained the system for mandatory deer vaccination that existed in the Soviet Union. In 1967 the Yamal territory was recognized as free of anthrax, and so in 2007 the regional government stopped inoculating the animals.
"A very serious mistake was made in 2007. Russia continued vaccinating the
neighboring regions, such as Yurga, Komi, and Nenets, but for some reason it was decided that Yamal, with the largest herds in the world, did not need to vaccinate its reindeer."
neighboring regions, such as Yurga, Komi, and Nenets, but for some reason it was decided that Yamal, with the largest herds in the world, did not need to vaccinate its reindeer."
Dmitry Kobylkin
Yamal's governor
Pastures of death
Scientists are worried about the burial grounds of infected animals.
"Concerning the old animal burials, some carcasses were taken away by scavengers, but some remained on the ground, which a year later was already covered with vegetation. The Soviet Agriculture Ministry previously kept track of the burials. With the collapse of the USSR several villages disappeared, neighborhoods changed names, and overall there was a mess."
Nikolai Melnik
Professor of veterinary sciences, associate fellow of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
Old car tires, special fire mixtures, and oil products guarantee the prolonged burning of the reindeer carcasses. This is the only way that the spores can be thoroughly destroyed.
Such burials, or "pastures of death," exist in other northern regions. For example, in Yakutia in Eastern Siberia there are an estimated 285 burial areas with the Siberian plague, according to the region's veterinary service. But of these 285, authorities only know the exact whereabouts of 77 burial areas. The other 208 burial areas are located in places inaccessible to transportation. Fortunately, the republic carries out mandatory vaccination.
The animals that died this summer are now being destroyed by biological protection unit of the Russian Armed Forces. Old car tires, special fire mixtures, and oil products guarantee long burning of the reindeer carcasses. Then, the ground is processed with a disinfectant. This is the only way that the spores can be thoroughly destroyed.
The animals that died this summer are now being destroyed by biological protection unit of the Russian Armed Forces. Old car tires, special fire mixtures, and oil products guarantee long burning of the reindeer carcasses. Then, the ground is processed with a disinfectant. This is the only way that the spores can be thoroughly destroyed.
"There are no roads and communications here, and it is practically impossible to transport carcasses to a place without something dripping or without a limb falling off. This could create many more burials in the tundra. That's why each deer carcass is burned individually on the spot.''
Alexander Sokolov
Deputy director of the Arctic Scientific Research Station, the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology
The Yamal region produces more than 2,500 tons of reindeer meat annually, and plans to increase the amount to 4,000 tons by 2017. At the moment, there is a temporary ban on the sale of reindeer meat, antlers and hides. If the situation soon normalizes, traditional preparation of venison will begin in October or November.
Mammoth infections
What surprise will global warming bring next?
Entirely new and unknown infections lodged in mammoth remains could become a problem.
Scientists believe that forgotten and previously eradicated diseases from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as smallpox, may reappear. In addition, entirely new and unknown infections lodged in mammoth remains could become a problem.
"Two years ago the loss of reindeer was much greater when an icy rain pelted the snowy tundra in the spring, covering the surface with a hard icy cover, preventing reindeer from finding food,'' said Sokolov. "For the first time foxes and the hooded crow appeared en masse, and the numbers of Arctic foxes and wolverines increased. These predators multiply thanks to abundant food sources such as deer carcasses, and then they turn to lemmings and birds; they eat partridge, curlew, goose and duck nests."
"Two years ago the loss of reindeer was much greater when an icy rain pelted the snowy tundra in the spring, covering the surface with a hard icy cover, preventing reindeer from finding food,'' said Sokolov. "For the first time foxes and the hooded crow appeared en masse, and the numbers of Arctic foxes and wolverines increased. These predators multiply thanks to abundant food sources such as deer carcasses, and then they turn to lemmings and birds; they eat partridge, curlew, goose and duck nests."
The Arctic's ecosystem is changing rapidly, according to a study prepared by the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology's Arctic Scientific Research Station (ANIS), which is located several kilometers from the infected area.
While scavengers can potentially spread anthrax, Sokolov said they are not a global threat, but more of a local one for Yamal. "If an Arctic fox eats infected meat, it will most likely die in two or three days, and it won't have time to travel far from the epicenter of the infection," said Sokolov. "And seagulls can't be infected by anthrax. The disease can only spread 10 kilometers at most."
Still, local authorities have already banned hunting waterfowl, and they recommend residents not to gather mushrooms and berries, which Yamal is famous for.
Still, local authorities have already banned hunting waterfowl, and they recommend residents not to gather mushrooms and berries, which Yamal is famous for.
Russia develops new anthrax vaccine
Specialists from the Moscow-based Russian National Scientific Research and Technological Institute of Biological Industry have developed a new and more effective anthrax vaccine for reindeer and cattle. The drug will be on the market in 2017.
Scientists said the new drug surpasses existing ones because it contains vaccines for two diseases – anthrax and necrosis, which causes purulent lesions in hooves that subsequently wither away.
"There has long been a need for a combined vaccine because it is very difficult and costly for reindeer herders to vaccinate their animals," said the vaccine's developer, Nikolai Melnik, a professor of veterinary sciences. "Usually anthrax vaccines are given once a year in the fall, and for necro-bacteriosis once every six months. Now herders can innoculate once a year. It is cheaper, and immunity develops in about 21 days."
Tests on the vaccine have been successful. In the past 18 months more than 1,500 reindeer in Yakutia were inoculated. Animals are vaccinated using a low-pressure spray, allowing the deer's skin to quickly absorb the drug and preventing other animals from being infected with a dirty needle. The drug does not freeze at a temperature of minus 30 Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), and it is suitable for the harsh conditions of the Russian North.
Scientists said the new drug surpasses existing ones because it contains vaccines for two diseases – anthrax and necrosis, which causes purulent lesions in hooves that subsequently wither away.
"There has long been a need for a combined vaccine because it is very difficult and costly for reindeer herders to vaccinate their animals," said the vaccine's developer, Nikolai Melnik, a professor of veterinary sciences. "Usually anthrax vaccines are given once a year in the fall, and for necro-bacteriosis once every six months. Now herders can innoculate once a year. It is cheaper, and immunity develops in about 21 days."
Tests on the vaccine have been successful. In the past 18 months more than 1,500 reindeer in Yakutia were inoculated. Animals are vaccinated using a low-pressure spray, allowing the deer's skin to quickly absorb the drug and preventing other animals from being infected with a dirty needle. The drug does not freeze at a temperature of minus 30 Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), and it is suitable for the harsh conditions of the Russian North.
Text by Svetlana Arkhangelskaya.
Edited by John Varoli,Victoria Zavyalova
Design and layout by Victoria Zavyalova, Daria Donina.
Images credits: Administration of Yamal region,Alamy photo
© 2016 All Right Reserved. Russia Beyond The Headlines.
info@rbth.com
Edited by John Varoli,Victoria Zavyalova
Design and layout by Victoria Zavyalova, Daria Donina.
Images credits: Administration of Yamal region,Alamy photo
© 2016 All Right Reserved. Russia Beyond The Headlines.
info@rbth.com
