On 15 July, in two villages of the Atbasar District in the Akmola Region, the quarantine for anthrax was to be either lifted or extended. However, as journalists note, even by this date, the regional authorities had provided no official or clear information.
According to journalists from the Telegram channel "HALYQSTAN", for two weeks they have been unsuccessfully attempting to get answers from various state bodies — from sanitary doctors and the veterinary service to the district akimat. However, no one is providing up-to-date information on the number of cases, the results of the epidemiological investigation, or the measures taken.
"Bear with it, everything will be in the WhatsApp chat"
This, according to the journalists, is the response from the head of the Internal Policy Department of the Akmola Region, Gulmira Karimova.
It is also noted that inconsistencies in data continue in official sources: the figures for those infected do not match, and the comments from authorised officials contain contradictions and do not provide a clear picture of the situation.
"First, they announced 19 cases; a little later, this information was recoded: tests were taken from 19 people, 7 confirmed anthrax, the other 12 tested negative. After that, they reported 8 confirmed cases in the region (one in a serious condition, the rest in a moderate condition): these are the latest data from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision Committee," the statement said.
It has become known that a number of journalists from the Akmola Region have officially submitted a proposal to the Internal Policy Department to hold a briefing with the participation of sanitary and veterinary services, but no response has been received.
"Anthrax is no joke. It is a dangerous infection requiring a swift and clear response, open communication, and constant updating of data. Akims, sanitary doctors, and other specialists should be in touch with the public, not hiding behind messengers and dry press releases," they noted.
Recall that earlier, a quarantine was introduced in two villages of the Atbasar District in the Akmola Region due to an ongoing anthrax outbreak. The infection occurred because of livestock grazing near a cattle burial site. It was noted that one victim is in a serious condition.