Bhutan: Outbreak of Anthrax in Cattle and Humans

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.moa.gov.bt/moa/news/news_detail.php?id=1375

Outbreak of Anthrax in Ngangla Geog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag

Following the incessant rain in mid July 2010 animals either died suddenly or showed signs and symptoms consistent with Anthrax. The cause was latter confirmed as Anthrax as per laboratory observation and clinical symptoms.

The first case was suspected to have taken place sometime between mid July and 13 August when the Mangmi of Ngangla gewog had reported the cattle death to the Livestock-in-charge of Panbang and accordingly the In-charge of RNR Extension Centre (RNREC) in Panbang sent a flash report to RLDC Zhemgang on 2 August 2010. Immediately the team from RLDC, Zhemgang accompanied by staff of LEC, Kagtong visited the affected villages under Ngala geog to conduct detail investigation. The investigation team came across a carcass of a Jatsham on 13 August. The carcass was not opened since there was bleeding from the natural orifices which indicates anthrax. The smears and swabs were collected to carry out further investigation at the laboratory. The impression smears (slide) collected on 13 August 2010 were subjected to Gram and MB staining and found gram positive rods which has the shape of Bacillus anthracic. The team conducted an awareness meeting and advises were given to the farmer about the risk of Anthrax and proper burial of carcasses. Eight people have suffered from the illness after handling and consuming the meat from the animals that have died due to suspected anthrax...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Bhutan: Outbreak of Anthrax in Cattle in Ngangla Geog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag

Re: Bhutan: Outbreak of Anthrax in Cattle in Ngangla Geog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag

Source: http://www.kuenselonline.com/2010/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=16659

Anthrax outbreak

Domestic animals killed, people infected

Kaktong, Panbang, Zhemgang 8 September, 2010 - An anthrax outbreak had killed about 29 cattle and infected eight people in Kaktong village in Panbang, Zhemgang as of September 2.

According to Kaktong villagers, cattle in the locality, cows, oxen, horses, pigs and cats, started dying since July, after suffering from swelling neck, bleeding both from mouth and the rear.

On July 24, a 33-year old man came to Kaktong basic health unit (BHU) complaining of leech bite on the chest. ?On investigation, we found out that he had handled the carcass of an infected animal,? Kaktong?s health assistant, Tsheten Zangmo, said.

The man, after touching the infected animal, scratched his chest bitten by a leech. ?That was how he got infected,? the HA said.

Tsheten Zangmo said that, after that incident, the disease infected seven other people, including a 10-year old girl. ?While the seven men had wounds on legs and hands, the girl suffered from wounds on her face.?

Seven patients were treated in the BHU with antibiotics and injection, while one man with severe wounds was referred to Panbang BHU.

Human infections are suspected to have caused by people handling the anthrax-infected cattle and eating the contaminated meat.

Officials from the regional livestock development office in Zhemgang, who went to investigate the case after receiving the report last month, told Kuensel that the outbreak was caused by bacillus anthrax is, a bacteria which stays in the soil and spreads to animal during rainy seasons.

?We did a detailed investigation by collecting samples and doing laboratory analysis,? said an assistant veterinary officer, NK Sinha, who went to Kaktong.

He explained that anthrax exists naturally in the soil and commonly infects livestock, especially during or after the monsoon, when water brings it up to the surface. Anthrax spores can remain dormant for years until they find their way into a host, usually wild or domestic livestock. Most human cases of anthrax occur as a result of exposure to infected animals or their meat or hides.

He said that, as a preventive measure, antibiotic injections were given to herd mates and, since it was the first outbreak in the locality, all animals were vaccinated. ?Movement of animals to the infected village was also restricted.?

NK Sinha said the office gave directives on how to control the disease and also created mass awareness to the public. ?Carcasses of animals that have died because of anthrax should be deposited, but in Kaktong, people handled it and consumed it,? he said, explaining that the blood of the infected animal spreads the infection to humans.

Meanwhile, Kaktong residents are worried about the mass death of cattle. ?One household lost all eight cattle they owned and it?s a huge loss to a farmer,? a resident said, adding that on September 2, another cattle died in the locality.

Bhutan is the second country to record the outbreak this month. An outbreak in Bangladesh has infected nearly 300 people since its first detection two weeks ago. The country was put on high alert on Sunday, September 5, as the bacterial disease continued to spread between animals and people, and killed 150 cattle.

By Tashi Dema

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Bhutan: Outbreak of Anthrax in Cattle and Humans

Source: http://www.kuenselonline.com/2010/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=16811

One person dies of anthrax

Eight others affected, after an outbreak killed 25 domestic animals

UPDATE 23 September, 2010 - At least one person has died of suspected pulmonary form of anthrax and about eight people were affected with a cutaneous form of anthrax in Zhemgang, as of September 15, according to the officials of the national centre for animal health (NCAH).

A total of 25 cattle, eight horses/mules, four pigs and six cats were also reported dead due to anthrax outbreak...