The remains of humans and livestock killed by the anthrax virus in
the early 1980s in Chongqing were properly handled during
preparation for the filling of the Three Gorges Reservoir,
according to an official.
Guo Shuyan, vice director of the State Council Three Gorges Project
Construction Committee, said at a new conference on Thursday that
no anthrax bacillus has been found during repeated checks on
collected soil samples from the original tomb sites. This indicated
that the tombs will pose no threat to the waters of the Yangtze
River once submerged, he said.
The anthrax virus, which can survive up to 50 years, can be traced
back to horses used in combat, which succumbed to anthrax and were
buried in Fengjie in present-day Chongqing Municipality during
World War II.
In
1982, several head of livestock became infected while grazing in
the burial area.
The infected livestock then passed on the virus to local residents.
Six people and 13 head of livestock died during that period.
The local health department has prohibited farming, mowing and
digging in the area surrounding the 19 tombstones until 2042.
According to Wu Changpei, deputy director of the Chongqing
Municipal Health Department, while conducting sanitary preparations
for the filling of the Three Gorges Reservoir, workers found that
all of the 19 tombs were located below the anticipated water line
of 135 meters, and should be cleaned up.
The clean-up was carried out in September last year. While workers
excavated the tombs, liquefied bleaching powder was sprayed to
prevent the dust from dispersing. Once the remains were incinerated
with the use of blow torches, large amounts of bleaching powder
were used again to sterilize the tomb sites, which were then
re-buried.
According to Wu, the disinfection was carried out not only at the
tomb sites, but also on all areas within a five-meter radius of the
tombs.
On
average, 50 kilograms of diesel oil and one ton of bleaching powder
were used for each of the 19 tombs.
The entire clean-up lasted four days and was supervised by the
China Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The anthrax virus is highly infectious and resistant among human
beings and animals.
(eastday.com June 14, 2003)