Increased epizootic activity of the natural plague focus has been registered in the border area between Russia and Mongolia. Specialists reached these conclusions after analyzing the results of laboratory tests conducted in 2026.
According to information from Rospotrebnadzor, this concerns the Saylughem cross-border focus, which covers an area of approximately 29 thousand square kilometers. Almost sixty percent of this zone is located in Mongolia.
The condition of this zone is regularly monitored by Russian anti-plague institutions in cooperation with the National Center for Zoonotic Disease Studies of Mongolia. In the Russian Federation, planned monitoring and vaccination activities continue, which helps maintain a stable sanitary and epidemiological situation.
Systemic nature of the focus activation
The intensification of the focus activity near the border is part of a systemic process observed in recent years. As early as 2023, representatives of the Mongolian specialized center reported at the international conference 'Problems of Zoonotic Infections' the discovery of 137 natural plague foci in 17 aimag of Mongolia.
The areas closest to Russia are the regions of the northwestern Uvs aimag, which borders Tuva. According to the results of joint studies conducted by epidemiologists from both countries, the growth of focus activity in this specific region was also recorded in 2022.