Russia begins mass vaccination against bubonic plague in danger areas near border with Mongolia

Urgent steps were taken after a wide spread of the Black Death pathogen via fleas was detected in two districts - Ovyursky and Mongun-Taiginsky - of the remote mountainous republic in Siberia.  

A major disinfection campaign aimed at killing infected fleas on the territory of more than 340km2 goes on in both districts. 

The Ovyursky district is particularly vulnerable since there are more than 3,000 local residents living in its main settlement of Khandagayty. 

’In Ovyursky district, the dangerous area is Khandagayty settlement with a population of over 3,000.

Here, urgently, employees of the epidemiological squad carried out barrier disinfection, treating 4,000 hectares around the village from plague carriers’, said Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s health watchdog.

A Russia begins mass vaccination against bubonic plague in danger areas near border border with Mongolia. Tuva Media Group

More than ten doctors were deployed to vaccinate people living in the settlement. 

In another area, eight shepherd camps with 51 people including 16 children were deemed at serious risk of infection. 

Today’s action in Siberia follows two recent deaths from bubonic plague in China’s Inner Mongolia.

Earlier a 15-year-old boy has died from the Black Death in Mongolia, and two brothers were infected in a separate outbreak. 

A 2,500 adults, 623 children so far vaccinated in the Republic of Tuva to prevent flea-spreading of the decease. Pictures: Tuva Media Group

Three other Russian regions are monitoring the spread - Trans-Baikal, and the republics of Altai and Buryatia. 

Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease spread by fleas living on wild rodents like marmots. 

It kills in less than 24 hours if not treated promptly.