Anthrax Outbreak Reported in Northern Kazakhstan

An outbreak of anthrax has been confirmed in the Akmola region of northern Kazakhstan. According to official data, at least seven people have been infected after coming into contact with contaminated livestock. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, identified the source as unvaccinated and unregistered animals grazing near an old cattle burial ground located approximately seven kilometers from the villages of Magdalinovka and Novomarinovka. Ten infected cattle have been identified and culled. “There are many questions for the owners of these animals. They were not registered anywhere,” Saparov said at a press briefing. Authorities have imposed a quarantine, carried out disinfection procedures, and restricted access to the affected pastures. Sanitary measures have also been intensified in nearby settlements. The Ministry of Health reported that 19 individuals underwent medical examinations, with seven cases confirmed in laboratory tests. One patient is in serious condition, while the remaining six are in stable condition. Four of these cases had been previously reported. Saparov also dismissed speculation that contaminated meat had entered Astana’s markets. "We checked everything, even the door handles. All samples tested negative. Suspicious meat was immediately seized," the minister stated. The outbreak in the Atbasar district has exposed long-standing deficiencies in Kazakhstan’s veterinary oversight and livestock registration systems. Although the country maintains an electronic livestock registration system, its usage is inconsistent, particularly in remote regions where many farmers fail to register or vaccinate their animals. In response, the government has pledged to tighten regulatory enforcement. Inspections will begin in the affected areas, with violators facing increased fines. Authorities also plan to target so-called “dealers,” middlemen trading in unregistered livestock. “This is not just about private property. It is a threat to public health,” Saparov added. The quarantine in the outbreak zone will last a minimum of 15 days. Authorities will assess whether to lift the restrictions following additional inspections. Anthrax is a dangerous bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans, primarily through contact with infected meat or contaminated soil. Outbreaks occur periodically in Kazakhstan, particularly in areas where Soviet-era cattle burial sites remain unregistered and unmapped. Regional veterinary officials have warned that many of these burial grounds have not yet been properly identified, posing a continuing risk to grazing livestock. In recent days, Minister Saparov proposed introducing criminal liability for the sale of meat that bypasses veterinary and sanitary controls.

Central Asia Takes Steps to Ward off Mpox after WHO Declares Emergency

Central Asian countries have prepared mpox test kits and taken other precautions since the U.N. World Health Organization said last week that the sharp increase in cases of the virus in Africa posed an international health emergency. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are among countries in the region that say they have not registered any suspected cases of the virus. They are heeding the advice of WHO, which is appealing for a coordinated international response to prevent its wider spread. The U.N. health agency also declared a global health emergency because of mpox in 2022, and cases were reported around the world before declining. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that it has increased sanitary and quarantine measures at airports, railway stations and border crossings, and is focusing on people coming from countries where cases of mpox have been reported. “Today, sanitary and quarantine points are equipped with thermal imagers and contactless thermometers for the timely detection of people with fever,” the ministry said. It added that WHO had assisted with the delivery to Kyrgyzstan of 3,000 PCR tests for detecting mpox in 2022. Some 500 tests were available as of Monday and efforts are underway to procure more tests, according to the ministry. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are also conducting similar precautionary measures. Timur Sultangaziyev, Kazakhstan’s deputy health minister, said methods for detecting people infected with the mpox virus are based on the COVID-19 pandemic and treatment guidelines are in place, according to the Kazinform News Agency. Health officials in Uzbekistan said they are planning for a 21-day medical observation period of anyone who has had contact with a patient sick with mpox. Like other Central Asian countries, they plan to build up their reserve of test kits for the virus. Medical specialists are also being trained in how to handle the disease. Mpox has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC, for more than a decade, with cases increasing each year, according to WHO. The number of cases reported so far this year is more than last year’s total, with more than 15,000 cases and at least 500 deaths, according to WHO. Some other African countries have reported a far smaller number of cases. The DRC outbreak is being driven by two strains – one that mostly affects children, and a new one that “primarily affects adults and is spreading rapidly, sustained largely, but not exclusively, through transmission linked to sexual contact and amplified in networks associated with commercial sex and sex workers,” WHO said. Mpox symptoms can include fever, skin rash, lesions and chills. Most treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. The disease can spread through close contact with an infected animal or person.