People should not get panicked with anthrax infection
Monday, 4 October 2010
Ferdous Rahman
The country remains on high anthrax alert though there is no fresh infection either by cattle or human since September 18. Anthrax infection in the country was first identified at Shahjadpur in Sirajgonj on August 17. Then gradually it transferred to 17 upazillas of 8 districts till today. Up to this period, total cattle infections by anthrax outbreak in the whole country are 122.
Anthrax is a potentially lethal bacterium that exists naturally in the soil and commonly infects livestock which ingest or inhale its spores while grazing. Fish, poultry including birds and milk cannot be affected by anthrax. Even here no buffaloes have so far been infected by anthrax.
Anthrax bacteria do not transmit from person to person. It can only be transmitted to humans while handling or eat infected animals' meat. But anthrax bacteria cannot survive while cooking even in normal temperature. There is no specific symptom of anthrax other than the dark ulcers of the skin. However, the disease is not fatal for human beings and ready cure is in place.
Anthrax outbreak in Bangladesh cannot even considered as epidemic as only 46 cows out of some 60 million cattle died so far by this virus. There is nothing to be panicked. The important aspect of managing the outbreak of anthrax is to ensure proper treatment of the infected human beings. If it is diagnosed early, then it can be treated easily using antibiotics. But the patient needs to be treated by an appropriately trained physician. This is not an infectious disease and the patient does not need to be isolated.
According to the statement of state minister for health in parliament on September 20, total 557 people are affected so far with anthrax. However, all the cases termed anthrax are not confirmed as many people are calling regular infections as anthrax out of panic. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) latest record shows (as on September 27) that a total of 599 people got infected so far in last one month. No person has died due to this disease and there is no such possibility also. Almost 95 percent of confirmed infections have already been cured and the rest are under treatment.
The government has taken all out measures to tackle this disease. The situation is now under control of the government's time befitting measures. The government issued directive to the concerned people including Department of Livestock Services (DLSS) and Civil Surgeons so that no sick cattle is transported within the country. On September 5, Fisheries and Livestock Resources Ministry issued a red alert to its various departments and officials to check the spread of anthrax across the country. The Eid leave of the officials and staff belong to DLSS was cancelled. The DG of Livestock Research Institute was asked to find out the source of the disease.
A total of 150 field workers and 25 officials were deputed from DLSS in the affected areas. In addition, five deputy directors are monitoring the situation round the clock. DLSS have already setup check posts on the western side of the Bangabandhu Bridge, as well as Aricha and Doulatdia Ghats and Gabtoli Cattle Market including Godagari and Charghat of Rajshahi district, to ensure that anthrax-affected animals cannot enter the capital and pass beyond. Veterinary doctors are posted in those check posts to examine the cattle. Affected animals are impossible to be transported to Dhaka and beyond from northern districts, because animal with anthrax disease dies within four hours. However, two veterinary doctors with 6 DLSS staff have been on duty in two shifts at Gabtoli Cattle Market since September 6 and no anthrax affected animal has been detected in the market till today. DLSS has planned to setup total 10 check posts at different spots in the country before Eid-ul-Azha.
The government, on September 21, formed a 25-Member National Steering Committee to help control the anthrax outbreak within a month. The inter-ministerial committee was formed with representatives from the ministries of health, environment, home affairs, foreign affairs and livestock including all six city corporations of the country. The minister of fisheries and livestock heads the committee. A dive-member technical committee headed by a joint secretary was also formed to assess the need for the number of vaccines and vaccinators at a particular community. The committee will complete vaccination in the affected upazillas within a month. Alongside the two central committees, steering committees in district, upazilla and union were also formed for field-level monitoring. A training workshop for all the civil surgeons has been arranged for their skill development on uniform anthrax management.
A complete and routine vaccination of cattle has virtually eliminated anthrax from the developed countries. Our government has also planned for vaccination of cattle. The government has sufficient reserve of anthrax vaccines and has sent some 200,000 vaccines to the affected areas and some 900,000 vaccines to different parts of the country. The vaccination programme will cover the affected areas initially.
In the mean time, the government has prepared the Short Term Work Plan- 2010 to contain anthrax outbreak. Moreover, they are considering adopting a bill in parliament for cattle slaughtering and controlling the quality of meat. The government is also planning to give compensation to people who have lost their cattle due to this disease.
Awareness of people is most important in containing anthrax outbreak. They should not be so panicked about this since the disease is not dangerous and can be treated easily. However, a vested group is active in a planned way to destroy the livestock sector in general and leather industries in particular so that it adversely affecst the economy of the country. They also aim to earn profit through selling of anthrax vaccines and to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country by using the meat-traders. Therefore, the media is having very important role to play so that people are not trapped.
The holy Eid-ul-Azha is ahead and the government is working to bring the present situation to normal before the Eid festival. There is no alternative to managing the situation with all out efforts so that the healthy cattle are sacrificed during the holy Eid.
The writer, a coordinator, Media for Development, can be reached at
e-mail: ferdous.rahmaan@gmail.com
The country remains on high anthrax alert though there is no fresh infection either by cattle or human since September 18. Anthrax infection in the country was first identified at Shahjadpur in Sirajgonj on August 17. Then gradually it transferred to 17 upazillas of 8 districts till today. Up to this period, total cattle infections by anthrax outbreak in the whole country are 122.
Anthrax is a potentially lethal bacterium that exists naturally in the soil and commonly infects livestock which ingest or inhale its spores while grazing. Fish, poultry including birds and milk cannot be affected by anthrax. Even here no buffaloes have so far been infected by anthrax.
Anthrax bacteria do not transmit from person to person. It can only be transmitted to humans while handling or eat infected animals' meat. But anthrax bacteria cannot survive while cooking even in normal temperature. There is no specific symptom of anthrax other than the dark ulcers of the skin. However, the disease is not fatal for human beings and ready cure is in place.
Anthrax outbreak in Bangladesh cannot even considered as epidemic as only 46 cows out of some 60 million cattle died so far by this virus. There is nothing to be panicked. The important aspect of managing the outbreak of anthrax is to ensure proper treatment of the infected human beings. If it is diagnosed early, then it can be treated easily using antibiotics. But the patient needs to be treated by an appropriately trained physician. This is not an infectious disease and the patient does not need to be isolated.
According to the statement of state minister for health in parliament on September 20, total 557 people are affected so far with anthrax. However, all the cases termed anthrax are not confirmed as many people are calling regular infections as anthrax out of panic. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) latest record shows (as on September 27) that a total of 599 people got infected so far in last one month. No person has died due to this disease and there is no such possibility also. Almost 95 percent of confirmed infections have already been cured and the rest are under treatment.
The government has taken all out measures to tackle this disease. The situation is now under control of the government's time befitting measures. The government issued directive to the concerned people including Department of Livestock Services (DLSS) and Civil Surgeons so that no sick cattle is transported within the country. On September 5, Fisheries and Livestock Resources Ministry issued a red alert to its various departments and officials to check the spread of anthrax across the country. The Eid leave of the officials and staff belong to DLSS was cancelled. The DG of Livestock Research Institute was asked to find out the source of the disease.
A total of 150 field workers and 25 officials were deputed from DLSS in the affected areas. In addition, five deputy directors are monitoring the situation round the clock. DLSS have already setup check posts on the western side of the Bangabandhu Bridge, as well as Aricha and Doulatdia Ghats and Gabtoli Cattle Market including Godagari and Charghat of Rajshahi district, to ensure that anthrax-affected animals cannot enter the capital and pass beyond. Veterinary doctors are posted in those check posts to examine the cattle. Affected animals are impossible to be transported to Dhaka and beyond from northern districts, because animal with anthrax disease dies within four hours. However, two veterinary doctors with 6 DLSS staff have been on duty in two shifts at Gabtoli Cattle Market since September 6 and no anthrax affected animal has been detected in the market till today. DLSS has planned to setup total 10 check posts at different spots in the country before Eid-ul-Azha.
The government, on September 21, formed a 25-Member National Steering Committee to help control the anthrax outbreak within a month. The inter-ministerial committee was formed with representatives from the ministries of health, environment, home affairs, foreign affairs and livestock including all six city corporations of the country. The minister of fisheries and livestock heads the committee. A dive-member technical committee headed by a joint secretary was also formed to assess the need for the number of vaccines and vaccinators at a particular community. The committee will complete vaccination in the affected upazillas within a month. Alongside the two central committees, steering committees in district, upazilla and union were also formed for field-level monitoring. A training workshop for all the civil surgeons has been arranged for their skill development on uniform anthrax management.
A complete and routine vaccination of cattle has virtually eliminated anthrax from the developed countries. Our government has also planned for vaccination of cattle. The government has sufficient reserve of anthrax vaccines and has sent some 200,000 vaccines to the affected areas and some 900,000 vaccines to different parts of the country. The vaccination programme will cover the affected areas initially.
In the mean time, the government has prepared the Short Term Work Plan- 2010 to contain anthrax outbreak. Moreover, they are considering adopting a bill in parliament for cattle slaughtering and controlling the quality of meat. The government is also planning to give compensation to people who have lost their cattle due to this disease.
Awareness of people is most important in containing anthrax outbreak. They should not be so panicked about this since the disease is not dangerous and can be treated easily. However, a vested group is active in a planned way to destroy the livestock sector in general and leather industries in particular so that it adversely affecst the economy of the country. They also aim to earn profit through selling of anthrax vaccines and to deteriorate the law and order situation of the country by using the meat-traders. Therefore, the media is having very important role to play so that people are not trapped.
The holy Eid-ul-Azha is ahead and the government is working to bring the present situation to normal before the Eid festival. There is no alternative to managing the situation with all out efforts so that the healthy cattle are sacrificed during the holy Eid.
The writer, a coordinator, Media for Development, can be reached at
e-mail: ferdous.rahmaan@gmail.com