Anthrax bacteria had been spreading across three sub-districts of Bangladesh’s northern district Rangpur for a few days. Recently, the bacteria had been detected in the bodies of 11 newly across Kaunia, Mithapukur, and Pirgacha sub-districts in Rangpur.
Initially, the disease appeared in Pirgacha upazila, but later it spread to neighboring Kaunia and Mithapukur sub-districts, informed Rangpur Civil Surgeon’s office.
Among the 11 newly identified patients, eight are from Pirgacha, two from Kaunia, and one from Mithapukur. The matter had been confirmed by Bangladesh’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
In near times, the detection of anthrax had created panic among local populations. Some had been stopped taking care of their cattle, while others had refrained from eating beef due to this infection, said the local people.
As a result, local meat traders are facing losses. Their selling had been lowered in recent days, which may hamper the investments in cattle farms, commented the livestocks specialists.
On the contrary, IEDCR collected samples from 12 people at Pirgacha for probable infection cases on September 13 and 14. Tests confirmed anthrax in eight of them. Additionally, two more were detected in Kaunia and one in Mithapukur on wednesday (October 01).
A source at IEDCR stated that anthrax bacteria were found in frozen beef on last month at Pirgacha. The Pirgacha Sub-district Health Officers induced a few health crackdown to identify the infected frozen meat at the sub-district after the death of a probable infected person. Among the patients, one had been exposed to goat meat, the source said.
According to the Rangpur Civil Surgeon’s office, two people died at Pirgacha in July and September from the disease. Although anthrax bacteria were found in their bodies, they died from other causes. During the same period, at least 50 people were infected across four unions of Pirgacha.
Pirgacha Sub-district Health Officer Muhammad Tanvir Hasnat said that so far, data on around 50 patients have been received, of which 90 percent have recovered.
Meanwhile, locals claimed that over the past two months more than a hundred cattle had died from anthrax. Yet, although an average of 1,500 animals were slaughtered daily in Rangpur city and the district, no health inspections were conducted. Across the division’s 1,303 markets, there were neither modern slaughterhouses nor veterinary surgeons.
Confirming the detection of newly 11 cases, Rangpur Deputy Civil Surgeon Ruhul Amin said that after Pirgacha, patients had also been found in Kaunia and Mithapukur. Eight new samples had been sent to IEDCR, but reports were yet to arrive. He also advised people to remain cautious about slaughtering sick cattle and eating their meat.
Rangpur district has more than 1.3 million cows, goats, and sheeps. Since August 26, 1 lac 65 thousand animals had been vaccinated against anthrax after the spreading of the disease, said Abu Sayeed, the Rangpur District Livestock Officer.
“There is no new infected livestock have been found and there is no reason to panic. Awareness programs are being conducted in mosques, temples, and marketplaces. I just want to tell: just being cautious during selling and slaughtering sick animals,” told Mr. Sayeed.