Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Four persons die of suspected anthrax
NEW DELHI: Four suspected anthrax deaths have been reported from Koraput district of Orissa while five persons are being treated for the disease in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is monitoring the situation and has sent out prevention and control guidelines to Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. According to reports received by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) from the Orissa government, the deaths were reported between January 19 and 25 in Lohaba village where there is a history of villagers consuming meat of dead cattle. A total of 278 people, who were taken ill after consuming infected meat, have been treated.
In Andhra Pradesh, five persons contracted Cutaneous anthrax after reportedly consuming meat of infected sheep. The sheep had been purchased by a retired Assistant Director of Veterinary Department in Gudur of which 20 died of suspected anthrax. Though the sheep were buried, some villagers reportedly consumed the flesh of these sheep.
Anthrax is a disease of animals and is transmitted to humans when they handle or eat infected meat. There is no documented human to human transmission. Prevention and control consists of proper disposal of carcasses of animals affected by anthrax, disinfection, decontamination and disposal of contaminated materials and vaccination of exposed susceptible animals.
Human anthrax is primarily prevented by creating awareness regarding disease and its transmission. Patient isolation is not required and there are no quarantine requirements.
Anthrax was reported in Koraput — one of the most under-developed districts of Orissa — in August last.
Ministry sources said teams headed by Assistant Health Officer Koraput and Medical Officer (Primary Health Centre) visited the affected Lohabab and Mina Rao Camp villages under Semiliguda gram panchayat and strictly advised the villagers not to consume meat of dead animals.
Steps in West Bengal
In Andhra Pradesh, a team of health officers visited the area and instructed the villagers to take precautionary measures.
In neighbouring West Bengal also measures are being taken to prevent any outbreak of the disease.
The State is already reeling under bird flu.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/09/stories/2008020953801300.htm
NEW DELHI: Four suspected anthrax deaths have been reported from Koraput district of Orissa while five persons are being treated for the disease in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is monitoring the situation and has sent out prevention and control guidelines to Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. According to reports received by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) from the Orissa government, the deaths were reported between January 19 and 25 in Lohaba village where there is a history of villagers consuming meat of dead cattle. A total of 278 people, who were taken ill after consuming infected meat, have been treated.
In Andhra Pradesh, five persons contracted Cutaneous anthrax after reportedly consuming meat of infected sheep. The sheep had been purchased by a retired Assistant Director of Veterinary Department in Gudur of which 20 died of suspected anthrax. Though the sheep were buried, some villagers reportedly consumed the flesh of these sheep.
Anthrax is a disease of animals and is transmitted to humans when they handle or eat infected meat. There is no documented human to human transmission. Prevention and control consists of proper disposal of carcasses of animals affected by anthrax, disinfection, decontamination and disposal of contaminated materials and vaccination of exposed susceptible animals.
Human anthrax is primarily prevented by creating awareness regarding disease and its transmission. Patient isolation is not required and there are no quarantine requirements.
Anthrax was reported in Koraput — one of the most under-developed districts of Orissa — in August last.
Ministry sources said teams headed by Assistant Health Officer Koraput and Medical Officer (Primary Health Centre) visited the affected Lohabab and Mina Rao Camp villages under Semiliguda gram panchayat and strictly advised the villagers not to consume meat of dead animals.
Steps in West Bengal
In Andhra Pradesh, a team of health officers visited the area and instructed the villagers to take precautionary measures.
In neighbouring West Bengal also measures are being taken to prevent any outbreak of the disease.
The State is already reeling under bird flu.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/09/stories/2008020953801300.htm