Back to Search Start Over

Climatic Factors Influencing the Anthrax Outbreak of 2016 in Siberia, Russia.

Authors :
Ezhova, Ekaterina
Orlov, Dmitry
Suhonen, Elli
Kaverin, Dmitry
Mahura, Alexander
Gennadinik, Victor
Kukkonen, Ilmo
Drozdov, Dmitry
Lappalainen, Hanna K.
Melnikov, Vladimir
Petäjä, Tuukka
Kerminen, Veli-Matti
Zilitinkevich, Sergey
Malkhazova, Svetlana M.
Christensen, Torben R.
Kulmala, Markku
Source :
EcoHealth; Jun2021, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p217-228, 12p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

In 2016, an outbreak of anthrax killing thousands of reindeer and affecting dozens of humans occurred on the Yamal peninsula, Northwest Siberia, after 70 years of epidemiological situation without outbreaks. The trigger of the outbreak has been ascribed to the activation of spores due to permafrost thaw that was accelerated during the summer heat wave. The focus of our study is on the dynamics of local environmental factors in connection with the observed anthrax revival. We show that permafrost was thawing rapidly for already 6 years before the outbreak. During 2011–2016, relatively warm years were followed by cold years with a thick snow cover, preventing freezing of the soil. Furthermore, the spread of anthrax was likely intensified by an extremely dry summer of 2016. Concurrent with the long-term decreasing trend in the regional annual precipitation, the rainfall in July 2016 was less than 10% of its 30-year mean value. We conclude that epidemiological situation of anthrax in the previously contaminated Arctic regions requires monitoring of climatic factors such as warming and precipitation extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16129202
Volume :
18
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
EcoHealth
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
152627962
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-021-01549-5