Participation of Scientific Research Organizations of the Russian NBC Protection Troops in Ensuring Epidemiological and Epizootic Well-Being of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District during the Anthrax Epizootic Outbreak in 2016–2018

Abstract

2016 was marked by the largest epizootic of anthrax among reindeer and people in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. The development of the emergency situation has led to significant economic and material losses to the region. The federal executive bodies, as well as scientific research organisations of the Russian NBC Protection Troops were attracted to the elimination of consequences of this epizootic. The aim of this work was to summarize the role of scientific research organizations of the Russian NBC Protection Troops in ensuring epidemiological and epizootic well-being of the Yamal Nenets Autonomous District during the anthrax epizootic outbreak in 2016–2018. The experts from the «48 Central Scientific Research Institute» of the Ministry of Defence together with the experts from the territorial branches of Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing and executive bodies of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District have developed a «Comprehensive Anthrax Prevention Plan for the Territory of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District for 2017–2020». This plan was dedicated to the monitoring and analyzing the epizootic situation, to the movement control, to the vaccination of people at risk and animals, as well as to the systematic control of epidemiological and epizootic well-being (sampling). Due to the implementation of these measures, an anthrax outbreak in Yamal was localized in autumn 2018. In order to monitor the situation at the sites of the epizootic in 2016, the specialists from the scientific research organisations of the Russian NBC Protection Troops carried out the selection and delivery of biological samples to the laboratory base of the «48 Central Scientific Research Institute» of the Ministry of Defence of Russia for their in-depth study. The results of VNTR typing allowed to state, that the genotype of Bacillus аnthracis isolates, that caused the anthrax epizootic outbreak in the Yamal, was not exotic for Russia. The genetic material of B. anthracis, analysed by the experts from the branch office of the «48 Central Scientific Research Institute», showed that it was identical with the B. anthracis strain genotype, obtained in 2016 in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District.

Keywords

• biological security
• risk assessment of biological hazards
• anti-epidemic measures
• anthrax
• epizootic