Poultry traders creating anthrax panic: minister
Dhaka, Oct 3 (bdnews24.com) – The anthrax scare is nothing but a propaganda by seven organisations of the poultry traders, the livestock minister has claimed.
After a meeting with the meat and diary traders' bodies at the Secretariat on Sunday, minister Abdul Latif Biswas said intelligence report reveals that those organisations of poultry owners, which he did not name, were involved in spreading such panic. "We're considering to take measures against him," he said.
The minister's comments came after repeated protests and demands by the meat traders around the country, who had been identifying that some vested quarters were conspiring over the anthrax issue and were taking advantage.
The minster also said since the beginning of anthrax 48 cows and 56 goats died, and more than 500 people were affected by the disease. He also pointed out that no new anthrax-contracted cattle had been identified since Sep 18.
However, Institute of Epidemiology, Diseases Control and Research (IEDCR) website states that 607 cases have been detected across the country until Saturday. Anthrax hit first in Sirajganj on Aug 18, when at least 26 people including two children showed signs of infection at Chithhulia village under Kayempur of Shahjadpur Upazila.
Earlier on Sep 28, Biswas hoped that if everything went well the government would be able to bring the anthrax situation under control one month before the Eid-ul-Azha. All district authorities, including the authorities from yet-to-be-infected districts, have been ordered to store sufficient vaccines. The situation is under our careful observation, Biswas added.
The government on Aug 29 set up four check posts at the city's entry points, posting one veterinarian for each of them, to prevent ailing cattle from entering Dhaka. On Sep 5, the government declared red alert. The government has also decided to compensate the owners of animals that died from Anthrax contagion.
After a meeting with the meat and diary traders' bodies at the Secretariat on Sunday, minister Abdul Latif Biswas said intelligence report reveals that those organisations of poultry owners, which he did not name, were involved in spreading such panic. "We're considering to take measures against him," he said.
The minister's comments came after repeated protests and demands by the meat traders around the country, who had been identifying that some vested quarters were conspiring over the anthrax issue and were taking advantage.
The minster also said since the beginning of anthrax 48 cows and 56 goats died, and more than 500 people were affected by the disease. He also pointed out that no new anthrax-contracted cattle had been identified since Sep 18.
However, Institute of Epidemiology, Diseases Control and Research (IEDCR) website states that 607 cases have been detected across the country until Saturday. Anthrax hit first in Sirajganj on Aug 18, when at least 26 people including two children showed signs of infection at Chithhulia village under Kayempur of Shahjadpur Upazila.
Earlier on Sep 28, Biswas hoped that if everything went well the government would be able to bring the anthrax situation under control one month before the Eid-ul-Azha. All district authorities, including the authorities from yet-to-be-infected districts, have been ordered to store sufficient vaccines. The situation is under our careful observation, Biswas added.
The government on Aug 29 set up four check posts at the city's entry points, posting one veterinarian for each of them, to prevent ailing cattle from entering Dhaka. On Sep 5, the government declared red alert. The government has also decided to compensate the owners of animals that died from Anthrax contagion.
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