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Anthrax case of man in another Altai village confirmed by tests

The man who had a high temperature was hospitalized
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

BARNAUL, August 28 (Itar-Tass) — Laboratory tests have confirmed a resident from the village of Marushka, which is located near the village of Druzhba where the anthrax outbreak was reported, is ill with anthrax, an Altai regional administration official told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

The man who had a high temperature was hospitalized.

A total of 13 people remain under the care of doctors. Out of the six cases preliminary diagnosed as anthrax, three were confirmed by laboratory tests, including the case of the man from Druzhba who died. The other three patients have no final diagnoses yet. Specialists monitor the state of the other eight people who had direct contacts with the ill people. The patients' condition is not life-threatening. They receive appropriate medical treatment, Vice-Governor Daniil Bassarabov said.

A quarantine is imposed in Druzhba and Marushka. Epidemic prevention measures are taken there.

The first who caught anthrax was 39-year-old shepherd Alexei Levin in Druzhba. He cut a dead cow to find out what caused the death. The man was infected and died. The Investigative Committee's Altai regional department opened a criminal case in this connection.

Anthrax is a very dangerous disease striking cattle, wild animals and people.

The Russian Health Ministry has provided special vaccine from its reserves for the Altai Territory to prevent the infection from spreading. The vaccine is already delivered to the region, where the vaccination is underway, Bessarabov said.

According to the vice-governor, the situation in the region is stable and fully controlled.

After the first anthrax case was reported, all the appropriate measures were immediately taken to localize the infection. The region imposed a state of emergency and a quarantine. All the livestock was vaccinated. Stray dogs were caught.