3 more get anthrax in Sirajganj
Sirajganj, Aug 20 (bdnews24.com)—Number of anthrax infected people have risen to 41 after another three were identified at Chithhulia under Shahjadpur Upazila in Sirajganj on Saturday.
The disease was first detected on Thursday among 26 residents of the village and 12 more were added on Friday, Shahjadpur upazilla health officer Dr Nurul Islam told bdnews24.com.
Earlier, at least 35 people of Soto Pathailhat village under Sathia Upazila in Pabna were infected with anthrax in August last year.
Those people got sick after consuming beef and coming in close contact with cows, Dr Islam added.
On Saturday, A views-exchange programme was held at Rabindra Kachari Bari auditorium. Upazila chairman Habibur Rahman Swapan presided.
Residents of the area were asked not to panic and visit the nearby doctors if needed.
Meanwhile, expert teams from the Dhaka's Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) reached the northern district on Thursday and jointly started to treat the infected people the following day.
Subodh Kumar Kundu, chief scientific officer of IEDCR and the team leader, told reporters on Friday that they had found similarities between symptoms of anthrax and the infected 38.
"In addition, we have collected different specimens including blood from the patients and the mud of the barns of the infected cows." He, however, said that there was no possibility of an epidemic, "since public awareness initiatives have been strengthened."
Kundu on Saturday said the specimens of the 28 infected were sent to Dhaka on Friday.
SPREAD OF ANTHRAX
A team from the district civil surgeon's office led by Dr Shariful Islam and district sanitary inspector Ramchandra Saha on Thursday morning visited the village and confirmed the infection.
Ramchandra had explained that on July 29, a buffalo of Abdus Salam and a cow of Shah Alam — both of which had contracted anthrax — were slaughtered and their meat was sold off to villagers. It is assumed that those who have contracted anthrax had come in close contact with those animals or consumed their meat.
All the patients' bodies have swollen and they complained of severe pain. They have also developed lesions on their bodies.
LOCALS' COWS AT RISK
Society manager of Milk Vita cooperatives Dr Idris Ali said that they had administered vaccine on 200 of the Uttarpara society's cows in the beginning of the year. The vaccines expire after a year.
"But fearing anthrax, those were re-administered on Aug 9. The two infected cows were bought from other areas," he claimed.
Locals said there are 300 more cows in the area that do not belong to the Milk Vita society.
They alleged that the Upazila livestock office does not cooperate regarding vaccine, whenever needed.
Livestock officer Shafiqul, admitting such allegation, said, "Sometimes it can happen due to unavailability of the vaccine."
The disease was first detected on Thursday among 26 residents of the village and 12 more were added on Friday, Shahjadpur upazilla health officer Dr Nurul Islam told bdnews24.com.
Earlier, at least 35 people of Soto Pathailhat village under Sathia Upazila in Pabna were infected with anthrax in August last year.
Those people got sick after consuming beef and coming in close contact with cows, Dr Islam added.
On Saturday, A views-exchange programme was held at Rabindra Kachari Bari auditorium. Upazila chairman Habibur Rahman Swapan presided.
Residents of the area were asked not to panic and visit the nearby doctors if needed.
Meanwhile, expert teams from the Dhaka's Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) reached the northern district on Thursday and jointly started to treat the infected people the following day.
Subodh Kumar Kundu, chief scientific officer of IEDCR and the team leader, told reporters on Friday that they had found similarities between symptoms of anthrax and the infected 38.
"In addition, we have collected different specimens including blood from the patients and the mud of the barns of the infected cows." He, however, said that there was no possibility of an epidemic, "since public awareness initiatives have been strengthened."
Kundu on Saturday said the specimens of the 28 infected were sent to Dhaka on Friday.
SPREAD OF ANTHRAX
A team from the district civil surgeon's office led by Dr Shariful Islam and district sanitary inspector Ramchandra Saha on Thursday morning visited the village and confirmed the infection.
Ramchandra had explained that on July 29, a buffalo of Abdus Salam and a cow of Shah Alam — both of which had contracted anthrax — were slaughtered and their meat was sold off to villagers. It is assumed that those who have contracted anthrax had come in close contact with those animals or consumed their meat.
All the patients' bodies have swollen and they complained of severe pain. They have also developed lesions on their bodies.
LOCALS' COWS AT RISK
Society manager of Milk Vita cooperatives Dr Idris Ali said that they had administered vaccine on 200 of the Uttarpara society's cows in the beginning of the year. The vaccines expire after a year.
"But fearing anthrax, those were re-administered on Aug 9. The two infected cows were bought from other areas," he claimed.
Locals said there are 300 more cows in the area that do not belong to the Milk Vita society.
They alleged that the Upazila livestock office does not cooperate regarding vaccine, whenever needed.
Livestock officer Shafiqul, admitting such allegation, said, "Sometimes it can happen due to unavailability of the vaccine."
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