25 more infected with anthrax in Sirajganj
Twenty-five more people have been infected with anthrax in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj in the last couple of days, bringing the number of affected people to 88.
This is the third time that anthrax, a disease that is transmitted through animals to human beings, has struck the upazila. Earlier, 50 people were infected in May, and 13 in July.
Critically affected Tourza Begum, 30, Hasna Khatun, 25, Polash Hossain, 25, Hashi Khatun, 3, Mariam Begum, 30, Samartha Begum, 65, and Shahin Rahman, 12, are undergoing treatment at Shahzadpur Upazila Health Complex, said Dr Monwar Hossain, resident medical officer.
Dr Jafarul Hossain, upazila health and family planning officer, said a health assistant found an anthrax affected patient at Char-Kouzuri village on Thursday. Separate teams rushed to the village and found 22 people infected with anthrax in two days, he said, adding that the victims had eaten anthrax infected meat.
“Most of the patients are women and children and the infection is only on the skin, except for those admitted to the health complex, so there is nothing to be worried about,” Dr Jafarul said.
Upazila Livestock Officer Md Abdus Samad said local people slaughtered a diseased cow in the village on August 8, defying advice, and distributed the meat of the animal among the villagers.
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