Anthrax scare grips Kandhamal district

BHUBANESWAR: Anthrax scare has gripped Kandhamal's Tumudibandha block after 15 people of Guchhuka village reported severe skin blisters and high fever on Friday. State diseases surveillance head Dr Bikash Patnaik said a health team from Phulbani visited the village on Friday and treated the affected. The situation is under control with no fresh case reported, he said.
Kandhamal district malaria officer Dr Jatin Patnaik, who led the health team to the village, said the condition of 10 persons, including three women, is serious.All the affected people had consumed the meat of a dead cattle in the past few days, the official said. While two of the serious patients were admitted to Tumudibandha CHC, others were treated in the village. A mobile health unit is stationed at Guchhuka.
Anthrax is a major public health concern in the tribal-dominated districts. In the past decade, 14 of the 30 districts have reported anthrax outbreaks 61 times affecting 750 people and killing 418. Koraput, Sundargarh and Malkangiri have reported maximum cases, official sources said. Anthrax has been reported from Sundargarh and Koraput this year.
Director of Regional Medical Research Centre Dr S K Kar said people are affected by anthrax following the intake of cattle meat. There is need for mandatory inspection of animals and their meat before consumption. There is also need to take awareness campaign on the importance of eating well-cooked meet. Regulation of meat sale and good hygiene practices in slaughter houses will help combat anthrax, Dr Kar said.