Government steps up anthrax prevention drive nationwide

Following reports of anthrax outbreaks among cattle in several districts, the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has launched a series of urgent and coordinated measures to curb the spread of the disease.

Anthrax, a bacterial zoonotic infection, can spread from livestock to humans. To contain the outbreak, local livestock offices — in collaboration with district administrations — have accelerated mass vaccination drives, livestock health checks, yard and street meetings, leaflet distribution, and public awareness announcements through miking.

The DLS has intensified public awareness efforts nationwide through advertisements in newspapers and partnerships with local authorities. Field-level monitoring has been strengthened, and strict measures are in place to prevent the slaughter of infected animals and ensure all cattle are brought under vaccination coverage.

Under the government's "One Health" initiative, joint awareness programmes are being conducted with local health departments. Livestock officers are holding regular meetings and training sessions to advise the public not to slaughter sick animals, not to dispose of carcasses in open spaces or water bodies, and to contact the nearest veterinary hospital in case of illness.

Rangpur and Gaibandha have been identified as the most affected districts, where special vaccination and monitoring programmes are underway. The Livestock Research Institute (LRI) will soon supply 3 million doses of anthrax vaccine to Rangpur Division — with 2 million doses allocated specifically for Rangpur and Gaibandha.

In Rangpur district, 167,000 cattle have been vaccinated so far across nine upazilas, including Pirgachha (53,400), Kaunia (34,000), Rangpur Sadar (26,500), Mithapukur (34,500), Gangachara (4,800), Taraganj (4,300), Badarganj (5,000), and Pirganj (5,000). Thirty-six medical teams are examining cattle in slaughterhouses, while 32 additional teams are conducting field vaccinations.

In Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha, 26,400 cows have already been vaccinated. Alongside, miking, yard meetings, and awareness campaigns have been completed, while a mobile court fined Tk15,000 for violations related to cattle management. Five veterinary medical teams have been deployed for continued field surveillance.

Laboratory results confirmed 10 out of 11 meat samples positive for anthrax, though all blood samples tested negative. The Ministry has also formed a high-level investigation team to identify the source of infection and assess the situation on the ground.

Officials expressed confidence that the joint efforts of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, DLS, local administrations, health departments, and communities will help bring the anthrax situation under control and safeguard both public health and the livestock sector.