Anthrax has broken out in two villages of Sundarganj upazila in Gaibandha after sick cattle were slaughtered, butchered and served at a wedding feast. With four new cases, 34 people have now been affected. Over the same period, nine people and two cows in the upazila were bitten by a jackal and infected with rabies.

According to the upazila livestock office and the health department, a cow fell sick in Dulal village of Kanchibari union on 31 August and another in Bachhati village of Sarbananda union on 18 September. The owners had both slaughtered with neighbours' help and sold the meat to about 200 people. Blisters and other anthrax symptoms followed, and hospital tests confirmed the disease.

A team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and the epidemiology cell visited on Wednesday. Samples sent to the Central Disease Investigation Laboratory tested positive: anthrax in the sick cow's meat and rabies in the jackal's head. One of those bitten on 13 September in Jigabari and Taluk Belka villages is still in hospital.

The upazila livestock office says Sundarganj has 254,000 cattle. Vaccination is needed for 45,000 cattle within three kilometres of the affected area, but only 30,000 doses have arrived, and a staff shortage is slowing the campaign. Farmers say anthrax struck last year too and the crisis has returned for lack of early preparation and timely vaccination. Last October 25 people were infected, and a woman and 10 cattle died.

Upazila livestock officer K M Iftekharul Islam said the risk is to those who come into contact with an infected animal's blood; because meat is cooked at high temperature, those who ate it are not expected to fall ill. The nine people and two cows bitten by the jackal have been vaccinated, he said.

Upazila health and family planning officer Dr Kamrul Hasan said 34 people from the two villages have been treated with anthrax symptoms. Courtyard meetings, awareness campaigns and vaccination are under way, and upazila executive officer Iffat Jahan Tuli said those bitten by the jackal have received financial help. The report is by Samakal's Sundarganj (Gaibandha) correspondent.

Source: Samakal