Anthrax spreads to 6 districts
September 6, 2010
Anthrax spreads in six districts prompting the government to issue red alert for the livestock department and cancel holidays of the officials concerned to tackle the situation.
Nineteen new cases were reported in Meherpur and Chuadanga yesterday taking the number of anthrax infected people to 327 in last 15 days.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas told reporters about the red alert at his ministry yesterday.
Everyone concerned including officials of the livestock department and civil surgeons are asked to remain highly alert so that they can immediately handle anthrax-affected people, if any infection is reported.
“The police and border guards are asked to keep vigil so that no sick cattle can enter the country,” said the minister, adding that 5 lakh vaccines for cattle have been sent to the affected areas to prevent new infection.
The red alert was actually issued for the employees of the livestock department, not for the country, elaborated Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Mohammad Shariful Alam.
“The Eid holidays of the employees of the department have been cancelled and the offices would be open round the clock. A control room has also been opened at the Department of Agricultural Extension,” he said.
He added doctors of city corporations would go to the slaughterhouses to examine the cattle that would be slaughtered. Besides, awareness campaigns regarding anthrax have been going on across the country.
The secretary also said no new cattle have been infected by anthrax in the last few days. But the people who slaughtered already infected cattle or came into direct contact are getting infected.
The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) says anthrax infection among people is nothing new in the country. In the last one year 99 anthrax cases in human were confirmed and treated.
The outbreak was first reported in Sirajganj on August 20, in Pabna on August 22, Tangail on August 31, Kushtia on September 1 and Meherpur and Chuadanga on September 4.
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus Anthracis and the cattle, if infected, suffer from severe fever and die within two to three hours. However, there are effective vaccines against the disease.
If anyone comes into direct contact with the affected cattle they also get affected. It is commonly seen on hands, forearms, head and neck. The lesion is usually single and after one to seven days a raised, itchy, inflamed pimple appears followed by a papule that turns vesicular. But proper treatment with antibiotics can cure it completely in ten days, say experts.
Gangni Upazila Health Officer Dr Zohurul Islam yesterday said 14 people were suspected to have contracted with anthrax in Debipur, Karamdi and Jhorpota villages, reports our Kushtia Correspondent.
Villagers say a sick animal of Saad Ali at Debipur village was slaughtered a few days ago. Some people of the village consumed the meat and were infected, they add.
Alamdanga Upazila Health Officer Dr Liakat Ali said it is suspected that anthrax broke out in Charjadabpur village as a sick goat of villager Abdur Rahim was slaughtered nearly a week ago.
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