The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) reported that as a result of the floods, 12 anthrax burial sites and 8 cattle burial grounds have been inundated. Earlier, the department had stated that 10 anthrax burial sites were flooded and assured that there was no risk of particularly dangerous infections occurring.
At the beginning of April, the editorial board of FBRK sent an official request to the Ministry of Agriculture asking for data on how many cattle burial grounds had been flooded in the regions during the floods.
At that time, the department reported that across Kazakhstan there were 10 flooded anthrax burial sites, noting that laboratory tests of samples from these sites had yielded negative results, and there was no threat of an epidemic.
It is noteworthy that earlier, information appeared in the media from a briefing by the "Central Communications Service", at which the head of veterinary and sanitary safety of the West Kazakhstan Region, Nurkaiyr Kussainov, stated that in the West Kazakhstan Region alone, meltwater had flooded 8 cattle burial grounds and 14 anthrax burial sites.
At the same time, Kussainov reported that there was a risk of infection for animals, as the causative agent of the disease can persist in the soil. Later, for unknown reasons, the media removed the material featuring the expert's statement.
Now the MoA states that as a result of the floods, 12 anthrax burial sites have been flooded in three regions of the republic. These regions include: Aktobe (3 burial sites), West Kazakhstan Region (3 burial sites), and North Kazakhstan Region (6 burial sites). The department also confirmed information about 8 flooded cattle burial grounds in the West Kazakhstan Region.
The Ministry, as before, assures there is no outbreak of an epidemic and notes that it is monitoring the epizootic situation in the country. The department reports that active vaccination against particularly dangerous animal diseases is underway in the regions.
The editorial board of FBRK is at a loss as to which official to believe, and expresses doubt that the burial sites flooded as a result of the floods pose no threat to the people of Kazakhstan.