Deadly anthrax outbreak in Russia

EuroNews:  One person is reported dead and ten people have been taken to hospital after an outbreak of anthrax in Russia.

The lethal disease is spread to humans by animals, especially cattle, and is fatal in 40 percent of gastro infections and 90 percent of cases if the bacteria is inhaled. It causes severe infections to skin and lungs

Officials have declared a state of emergency in the village of Druzhba in the remote Altai territory.

Roads around the village have been closed off and the deputy governor of the region says the outbreak is under control and localised.

The population of the village is just 740 and officials say 32 people in the Altai territory have come into contact with infected animals and are all under supervision.

The one fatality was on Saturday. A resident said:

“The victim was cutting meat from a dead cow and he had some cuts on his arms. He didn’t have any reason to suspect there was any risk and three days later he developed a fever. He died in hospital”.

Veterinary officials killed several infected cattle and vaccinated over 200 more animals in the area.