Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences called the anthrax infection in Mongolia a statistical episode.

Anthrax is present in Russia, but the epidemiological situation remains under full control, and the recent detection of this infection in a resident of Mongolia does not give cause for alarm. This statement was made on June 24 by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, epidemiologist, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences Gennady Onishchenko.

"The case in Mongolia is just a statistical episode. Anthrax is everywhere, and we have a lot of it. Therefore, you need to follow all the rules that have been known for a long time. No wonder it is called Siberian, not African, but Siberian. Because we first classified it as a disease in the 18th century," he told TASS.

Earlier it was reported that a case of human anthrax was recorded in the north-east of Mongolia, in Somon Thermal Power plant. This administrative region borders on the Republic of Tyva in Russia.

The expert explained that the high viability of this bacterium is due to its evolutionary ability to transform into spores. In this state, the microorganism goes into anabiosis mode, is protected by a strong shell and is able to persist in the soil for many decades. The scientist also said that there are about 30-40 thousand specialized anthrax burial grounds in the Russian Federation, which are properly isolated and do not pose a threat to the population.

Onishchenko clarified that livestock owners are usually infected. When a pet gets sick, the owners sometimes decide to let it go for slaughter.

"And if they are experienced, they will do everything well, and nothing will happen. And if he injures himself somewhere, he will develop a hyperulcer carbuncle at the site of penetration, then the axillary lymph nodes become inflamed, then it becomes severe and ends in death if left untreated," the academician warned.

The press service of Rospotrebnadzor also reported on July 9 that the region in Kazakhstan, where the outbreak of anthrax was recorded, does not border Russia, so there is no threat of epidemic spread. At all checkpoints, specialists carry out sanitary control to prevent the import of dangerous diseases.