No need for panic on anthrax, says health minister

gandhinagar: the state government has undertaken various precautionary measures to combat any anthrax outbreak as per the advice given by a team of doctors, who had undergone a study on the possible threat posed by biological and chemical weapons at the armed forces medical college (afmc), pune. health minister i k jadeja told mediapersons that all primary and community health centres in rural areas and government hospitals have been alerted against a possible anthrax attack.though the disease was endemic to india it could be treated effectively by the use of commonly available antibiotics. he said a team of doctors headed by bharat kazi has returned after undergoing necessary study and training to deal with a possible anthrax onslaught, and the health commissionerate has taken the necessary steps including storage of antibiotics in all hospitals and health centres across the state. "there was no need for any panic, but at the same time the government has taken adequate precautionary measures to deal with any eventuality." india has already developed an anti-anthrax vaccine, but it is available only for the armed forces. he appealed the people to take medical assistance in case of symptoms like fever, acute headache and coughing. the anthrax bacteria could enter the human body through breathing, skin or through the consumption of infected meat. to a question on whether the government has opened any special cell to monitor and check any possible anthrax attack, he said, "we are closely monitoring the situation and at this stage there was no need for any special cell." the minister said no case of the disease has been reported from any place so far, but senior officials have been asked to review the measures on a regular basis.