Eleven people in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur developed symptoms of anthrax after cutting and eating the meat of a sick cow, and tests confirmed the infection in three of them. Deputy civil surgeon Dr Firoz Khan confirmed the cases on Friday (25 September).

A team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) collected samples from the 11 people on 5 September after reports of symptoms, he said. Three tested positive and the rest negative; all three have recovered. They live in Adampur village of Chhaola union.

According to the upazila livestock office, Sajib Mia of the village bought a cow a few months ago. When it suddenly fell ill on 21 August he slaughtered it without informing anyone and shared and sold the meat among local people. Cutting and eating that meat caused the symptoms.

Pirgachha upazila livestock officer Dr Md Shakil Ahmed said the matter came to light 10 to 15 days after the meat was sold, when blisters appeared on some people's hands. Officials visited the area with senior colleagues and found no other cattle infected with anthrax.

All cattle in the area have been vaccinated to stop the infection spreading, he said; there is now no anthrax risk, most patients' sores have healed, and the livestock office is watching to make sure no one sells meat from sick animals.

Reported by Dhaka Tribune, Rangpur.

Source: Dhaka Tribune