Spread of anthrax in Korocha Uyezd of Kursk Guberniya in 1890s

Abstract

The first occurrence of anthrax for Korocha Uyezd of Kursk Guberniya in sta-tistics was in the zemstvo veterinary doctor's report for 1888. The disease was report-ed in the uyezd every year. The data registered in the reports did not always reflect the real situation with spreading anthrax. The veterinary staff as a rule learnt about an-thrax by chance or while treating sick livestock in veterinary outpatient clinics or while on business trips in the uyezd. In some years the number of livestock animals afflicted with anthrax rose sig-nificantly (over 300 cases per year). The mortality rate was very high for sheep. Peas-ants skinned deceased animals and dried their hides on the ground, and that contributed much to the high loss of cattle. The veterinary doctor approached the zemstvo council asking to offer a reward for hides from livestock animals which had died of anthrax as it was necessary for better dealing with anthrax. The money was paid only if dead animals were reported within 2 weeks from onset of the disease. In 1896 the uyezd held the first vaccination of livestock against anthrax, the total number of vac-cinated animals in 4 vaccination centers was 750. The reasons of anthrax spreading easily included leaving anthrax carcasses to lie in the open instead of disposing of them properly, absence of animal burial sites near settlements, skinning anthrax animals, concealing dead animals by their owners, refusal to cooperate by both rural and uyezd police in implementing veterinary and police regulations and procedures aimed at containing the epizootic. Vaccination of livestock as the only rational method of an-thrax prevention was used more and more widely every year. In 1900 the total of 10,837 animals were vaccinated in 46 vaccinations centres.