11 more infected with anthrax in Sirajganj

Eleven more people have been infected with anthrax in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj within the last 24 hours.

The affected people, Sanwar Sheikh, 25, Rabiul Islam, 20, Firoz Hossain, 22, Raju, 11, Helena, 35, Miraj, 15, Belal, 25, Mamun, 18, Nazmul, 14, Harun, 12, and Ajida, 4, hail from Moshipur Uttarpara village in the upazila.

They were given primary treatment at the upazila health complex.

Although the district administration took initiatives and issued orders to stop slaughter of sick cattle, such act did not stop.

The upazila health department has sent several medical teams in the anthrax affected village in the upazila to tackle the ongoing outbreak of infection and identify the fresh infected people, said Dr Jafarul Islam, Shahzadpur upazila health and family planning officer.

Quoting the victims, Dr Jafarul said one Jahir Ali Sheikh of the village slaughtered a sick cow on July 3 and distributed its meat among the villagers.

Those who took part in the meat processing are being infected with anthrax, he added.

With the latest 11, the disease has affected a total of 61 people in the upazila since May this year.