Anthrax symptoms detected in 11 patients in Gaibandha
With the new cases, 22 anthrax infections have been reported in the country so far this year.
At least 11 people in Gaibandha's Sundarganj upazila have shown symptoms of anthrax, a bacterial disease commonly transmitted from infected livestock.
Last night, seven patients were identified when they visited dermatologist Dr Monjurul Karim at Rabeya Clinic and Nursing Home Hospital in Gaibandha town for treatment, the hospital's staff Saidur Rahman told The Business Standard today (4 October).
Four others in the same upazila were reported with similar symptoms earlier, bringing the number of suspected cases to 11.
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Local union parishad member Hafizar Rahman said the infections likely began after villagers slaughtered a diseased cow on 29 September.
Eleven people involved in butchering and handling the meat later developed blisters and skin infections, particularly on their hands, faces, and near the mouth and nose, he added.
At least four of the affected individuals are currently hospitalised, he further added.
With these new cases, 22 anthrax infections have been reported in the country so far this year.
Earlier, on 1 October, 11 people were diagnosed with anthrax in three upazilas of Rangpur.
According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), anthrax, a deadly zoonotic disease, continues to pose a serious threat to both humans and animals in Bangladesh, particularly in the northern districts.
Primarily a disease of herbivores, anthrax often proves fatal for livestock and can spread to humans through contact with infected animals, handling contaminated hides, bones, or wool, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, and even inhalation of spores. The incubation period ranges from one to 20 days, and though human infections are less common, delayed diagnosis can be fatal.
Dr Ahmed Nawsher Alam, principal scientific officer at IEDCR, told The Business Standard, "Slaughtering sick cows or goats can spread anthrax. Our advice to everyone is not to slaughter sick animals and not to come into contact with them. This is not a matter of fear, rather of caution. People should not panic but stay alert."
Dr M Mushtuq Husain, public health expert and former advisor of IEDCR, said, "To remain safe from anthrax, sick cattle, goats, or any domestic animals must not be slaughtered. They should receive treatment, and if they die, they must be buried deep underground. Under no circumstances should dead animals be thrown into canals or wetlands."
Anthrax symptoms include fever, round skin lesions resembling ulcers, and sometimes itching. Treatment is available at upazila health complexes with antibiotics and lotions. Therefore, experts emphasise precaution over fear.
According to IEDCR, anthrax is endemic in Bangladesh, with sporadic outbreaks reported every year since 2010. In 2019, IEDCR initiated active anthrax surveillance in nine upazilas of five districts — Sirajganj, Pabna, Meherpur, Tangail, and Rajshahi — based on previous outbreaks.
