YEKATERINBURG, August 2. /TASS/. As a result of the current anthrax outbreak sweeping through western Siberia, 90 people from Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region have been hospitalized. This is what Natalya Khlopunova, the governor’s spokesperson, told TASS on Tuesday.
"To date, 90 people have been evacuated from the anthrax hotbed to Salekhard’s hospital, among them about 50 children," she said. "All of them are showing good signs. Doctors are monitoring their condition round the clock."
On Monday, the governor’s press service reported that eight reindeer-breeders, including children, from the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region had tested positive for anthrax. The deadly disease claimed the life of a 12-year-old youngster.
Authorities imposed quarantine measures in Yamal on July 25 because of the anthrax outbreak that has so far killed a total of 2,300 reindeer. According to the local administration, the cause of the outbreak was the extreme warm weather spell affecting Russia’s Far North. Anthrax was last recorded in Yamal 75 years ago, back in 1941.