Epidemiological and Epizootiological Situation on Anthrax around the World in 2021, the Forecast for 2022 in the Russian Federation

Abstract

A generalized analysis of the epidemiological and epizootiological situation on anthrax in the world in 2021 is presented. Provided is the forecast for the Russian Federation for 2022. In 2021, two cases of cutaneous form of anthrax were recorded in Russia among population living in the Siberian (the Republic of Tuva) and the North Caucasian (the Republic of Dagestan) Federal Districts. Epizootiological and epidemiological instability due to the infection was manifested in neighboring countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. Anthrax among farm and wild animals was registered in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Australia. Human cases were noted mainly in Africa (Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, China) and Asia (India, Indonesia, Iraq), and were caused by the contact and/or alimentary pathways of transmission of the pathogen as a result of forced slaughter of sick and/or butchering of fallen farm animals, consuming meat of sick and fallen cattle. The level of anthrax incidence among farm animals and humans in the Russian Federation in 2022 will be predetermined by the completeness of the implementation of regulated preventive measures, and, provided the strict introduction of comprehensive epizootiological and epidemiological surveillance, will be limited to sporadic cases of infection.