Anthrax alert: Unauthorised cattle slaughter banned in Gangachara
The meat traders said that the cows that will be slaughtered on the day are initially tested the night before by representatives of the Rangpur Department of Livestock Services Office
As a precautionary measure to prevent anthrax infection, the Gangachara Upazila administration of Rangpur has issued a precautionary ban on cattle slaughter without permission across the upazila.
Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahmud Hasan Mridha issued the ban on 13 October afternoon in the wake of recent reports of cattle anthrax infection in various parts of Rangpur district.
The office order signed by the UNO says, "It is hereby informed for the information of all concerned that anthrax disease has recently occurred in various places in Rangpur district.
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Anthrax is a zoonotic disease which has the potential to be transmitted from animals to humans.
Therefore, meat traders under Gangachara Upazila are requested not to slaughter animals without the observation/permit of the Upazila Livestock Department and Veterinary Hospital, Gangachara."
The office order also says, "If the matter of slaughtering animals without the observation/permit of the Upazila Livestock Department and Veterinary Hospital, Gangachara is proven, legal action will be taken against them."
"Legal action will be taken against the trader concerned if an animal is slaughtered without a permit, subject to evidence," the UNO told BSS this noon.
Meanwhile, test reports have been displayed at beef shops in various places in Rangpur city, including Medical Purbo Gate, Dhap, Lalkuthi intersection, City Bazaar, Lalbag, Bus Terminal and other places.
While visiting various spots in Rangpur city today (15 October), this reporter observed that buyers are not buying beef without anthrax test reports.
The meat traders said that the cows that will be slaughtered on the day are initially tested the night before by representatives of the Rangpur Department of Livestock Services Office.
Then, the cows that pass the test are slaughtered the next day with clearance certificates.
Rangpur District Livestock Officer Dr Md Abu Sayeed told BSS that some people with symptoms of anthrax have been identified in Pirgachha, Kawnia, and Mithapukur Upazilas of Rangpur district recently.
"Consequently, we launched an anthrax vaccination campaign in August and have already vaccinated over two lakh cows in Pirgachha, Kawnia, Mithapukur and Sadar Upazilas of Rangpur," he said.
The anthrax vaccination campaign also continues in adjoining Chilmari, Rajarhat and Ulipur Upazilas of Kurigram and Sundarganj Upazila of Gaibandha, he added.
Those infected with anthrax have been treated at the Upazila Health Complexes.
He said that the anthrax that has spread in Rangpur is 'cutaneous anthrax', which causes sores on the human skins and no one dies from the disease. Goats never carry anthrax.
"The cow-borne anthrax spreads from cattle to humans, but not from person to person, so although it is not highly contagious, it is important to take precautions," he said.
