Anthrax fears over animal burial sites

16 September, 2008, 05:29

Russia may face a deadly outbreak of anthrax, according to the country’s health watchdog. Hundreds of old burial places throughout the country where diseased animals were dumped are posing a major threat. Many of the sites are unmarked and have been sold to property developers.

The Tver region north of Moscow is one of the areas affected.  Large-scale construction work is in full swing near the burial sites of anthrax-infected animals, which were disposed of a century ago.

Sergey Sharapov and his fellow villagers have been fighting in the courts for more than three years against disturbing the soil at the sites.
 
“This cemetery dates from 1882. Fifteen years ago the construction of summer houses started near it, expanding the village. Although the safety zone is one kilometre away from the cemetery, every house drills a well,” Sharapov said.
 
The diseased animals were usually burnt and buried two metres deep. But the spores of anthrax can live in the soil for decades. If mixed with dust they can be inhaled by humans and animals. But the fact doesn't seem to bother Russia's rich, who are ready to pay up to $US 300,000 an acre at what has become Moscow's Riviera.

Tver’s veterinary authority says it didn't give its approval for building projects in the area.
 
The problem has been exacerbated because much of the data on the old cemeteries has been lost. Unmarked cemeteries can be a nasty surprise for buyers or developers.

Dmitry, another local resident, says they are trying to influence the situation as much as they can.

“The company that leased the land didn't know that there was a cemetery here. We informed the State Duma and one of the deputies sent a request to prosecutors,” he said.

The company is now limited by health and safety regulations in how it can use the land.

Sergey and other villagers are battling against the construction of a pier 300 metres away from the cemetery.

They've already lost several court cases but say they won't give up until they are sure their village will not be known for an anthrax outbreak.

The Tver region reported its last anthrax case in 1992. But throughout Russia 56 people have been infected with the disease since 2001. Four of them died.

This is three times less than in the last ten years of the Soviet Union.  However, the country's health watchdog is taking no chances.  It has implemented measures to control animal vaccination and the treatment of burial sites.