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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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N.W.T. bison anthrax outbreak grows to 27 dead animals
This is the ninth outbreak in the territory since 1965. About 60 bison died in an outbreak in Wood Buffalo National Park last year. More than 300 died in the territory's largest outbreak in 2012. Bison can become infected with anthrax while grazing or taking dust baths.
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

One dead and six in hospital after anthrax outbreak
The sick are said to have been in contact with the carcass of a cow suspected to have been infected. It is the first time a human being is succumbing to anthrax in the area.
Itoki, Southwest, Cameroon
The Standard

Warming climate and Arctic gas threaten Russia's reindeer herders
Indigenous Nenets reindeer herders say oil and gas operations in the Yamal region - exploration activity that includes hundreds of wells and dozens of trains and tankers - are polluting the environment and harming their animals' health.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
U.S.

Erosion Threatening Burial Site
A few years ago, people had to cover up parts of the burial site that were becoming exposed.
Wales, Alaska, United States
Racheal Lee, Max Neale, Erica Lujan, Tom Wolforth, Mike Brubaker, Michael Bruce, Debra Seetook, Vladimir Romanovsky, Louisa Castrodale

Erosion of Russian Era Graves
Erosion of Russian era graves is a concern because of history with epidemic, and tribal office has to collect and rebury remains.
St. Michael, Alaska, United States
Michael Bruce, Michelle Snowball, Anahma Shannon, Tom Wolforth, Racheal Lee, Darlene Chiskok

Ground Sinking at Historic Mass Burial Site
This year was one of the warmest and wettest in recorded history, and permafrost thaw is causing the ground at the mass gravesite to sink.
Brevig Mission, Alaska, United States
Anahma Shannon, Vanessa Tahbone, Tom Wolforth, James Olanna, Johnee Seetot, Vladimir Romanovsky, Mike Brubaker, Louisa Castrodale, Racheal Lee

Hill Where Graveyard is Located is Eroding
This year was one of the warmest and wettest in recorded history and permafrost thaw is causing the ground at the community cemetary to thaw and erode. The community is seeking guidance on best practices for relocation of remains.
Brevig Mission, Alaska, United States
Vanessa Tahbone, Anahma Shannon, James Olanna, Tom Wolforth, Johnee Seetot, Racheal Lee, Vladimir Romanovsky, Mike Brubaker

Unusually High Number of Horseflies (Tabanidae) and Wasps (Vespula)
Unusually high number of horseflies and wasps observed during a year with temperatures and precipitation levels above normal.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States
Sarah Yoder, Rebecca Charles, Derek Sikes

Natural anthrax killed 13 bison on farm in northern B.C.
The animals are thought to have contracted the disease from exposure to dormant anthrax spores in the soil of a feeding site on a farm. This is the first documented case of anthrax in livestock in B.C
Fort Saint John, British Columbia, Canada
680 NEWS

Anthrax kills eight cows on South Dakota farm
For the first time this year, anthrax has been reported in cattle in South Dakota.  State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven has confirmed that 8 cows died from a herd of 87 unvaccinated cattle in Clark County. The Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at SDSU confirmed the disease from samples submitted over the weekend. Anthrax …
Clark County, South Dakota, United States
Outbreak News Today

Reindeer crisis in Yamalo-Nenets as number of deaths rise
‘Thousands’ perish amid calls for a state of emergency in the region, with fears anthrax vaccine is a cause of death.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia

Mass vaccination against anthrax continues on Yamal tundra
More than 658,000 reindeer are up for vaccination in order to prevent another outbreak of the deadly bacteria infection.
Салехард, Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

More than 800,000 reindeer vaccinated against anthrax
In the course of summer, the whole reindeer population of the Nenets tundra will be made immune against the lethal bacteria infection.
Yamal Peninsula, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Officials resort to artificial rain to tackle raging wildfires in Siberia
Fires have wreaked havoc this summer with Yakutia and the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous the latest to be hard hit.
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia
The Siberian Times

All hell breaks loose as the tundra thaws
Weatherwatch A recent heatwave in Siberia’s frozen wastes has resulted in outbreaks of deadly anthrax and a series of violent explosions
Yamal Pensula, Russia
the Guardian

Russia plans to kill a quarter-million Siberian reindeer amid anthrax fears
A mysterious anthrax outbreak over the summer killed more than 2,300 reindeer and at least one child.
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Washington Post

Huge cull of 250,000 reindeer by Christmas in Yamalo-Nenets after anthrax outbreak
Freak warm weather followed by a freeze in winter 2013-14 caused an ice-over of pastures which led to the deaths of some 70,000 reindeer in a famine. This summer, there was an outbreak of deadly anthrax after the hottest Arctic summer on record.
Noyabrsk, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Siberia Times

Experts warn of threat of born-again smallpox from old Siberian graveyards
There was a town where up to 40% of the population died. Naturally, the bodies were buried under the upper layer of permafrost soil, on the bank of the Kolyma River. Now, a little more than 100 years later, Kolyma's floodwaters have started eroding the banks.'
Zashiversk
Siberia Times

Siberian Heatwave Sparks Anthrax Outbreak, Killing A Child And Thousands Of Reindeer
Russian officials have said the death of a 12-year-old boy, a member of a reindeer-herding family from the Yamal tundra 1,300 miles north of Moscow, was the first fatality in Siberia linked to the pathogen since 1941. Twenty others have been diagnosed with anthrax.
HuffPost

An Anthrax Outbreak in Siberia Kills a 12-Year-Old Boy and Sickens Eight
Thawing ground that revealed an infected reindeer carcass is believed to have resulted in a case of anthrax that killed a 12-year-boy and sickened eight others.
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
The Atlantic

Anthrax outbreak triggered by climate change kills boy in Arctic Circle
Seventy-two nomadic herders, including 41 children, were hospitalised in far north Russia after the region began experiencing abnormally high temperatures
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
the Guardian

Heat wave sparks anthrax outbreak - Yamal
Nenets District, Russia

Starvation killed 80,000 reindeer after unusual Arctic rains cut off the animals’ food supply
Sixty-one thousand reindeer starved to death in the northwestern reaches of the Russian tundra in November 2013 in the largest recorded mortality event of its kind.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
Washington Post

N.W.T. bison anthrax outbreak largest ever in territory
So far approximately 340 bison have died from an anthrax outbreak in the Fort Providence area of the N.W.T.
Fort Providence, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Anthrax outbreak confirmed in Wood Buffalo National Park
Bison will usually contract the disease from contaminated soil while wallowing in dust baths. Spores develop in hotter temperatures and fluctuating water levels. Cooler temperatures will kill the spores and slow the outbreak.
CBC

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