Prevent Anthrax

Anthrax, a potential biological weapon has comeback again. Medical authorities of Government of Bangladesh yesterday confirmed clinically the presence of the disease in 38 persons at Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj district. However, laboratory confirmation of the sample is expected to be ensured by this week, informed the Director, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Prof Mahmudur Rahman. He advised people not to be panicked, to report immediately and take immediate treatment if such condition arises further.
Civil surgeon of Sirajgonj Dr Nurul Islam said that a total 38 people has been treated for anthrax after seeing the signs and symptoms of it. They all have a common contact history with two sick cattle that might be infected with anthrax causing bacterium. Clinically they appeared to be anthrax. All 38 people are affected with cutaneous anthrax (anthrax manifesting in skin) which is rarely fatal if not treated. It is rarely transmissible from human to human.
Anthrax is caused by a spore forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. Humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals usually cattle or by breathing in anthrax spores from infected animal products (like wool, for example). People also can become infected with gastrointestinal anthrax by eating undercooked meat from infected animals.
Cutaneous (on the skin) anthrax infection that possibly occurred in Sirajgonj was transmitted through skin contact with infected cattle. It is shown up as a boil-like skin lesion that eventually forms an ulcer with a black center called eschar. It begins as an irritating and itchy skin lesion or blister that is dark and usually concentrated as a black dot, somewhat resembling bread mold. It is a painless ulcer that generally forms within the site of spore penetration between 2 and 5 days after exposure.
Experts advised to take following precautions in order to prevent anthrax from spreading from animal to human.
* Avoid contact with sick animals.
* If any cattle become sick, report immediately to the local livestock office and seek treatment.
* Do not eat sick animal's meat as traditional cooking temperature cannot kill anthrax spore properly.
* If any sick animal die, there should be utmost precaution taken to bury it. It should not be left open in a place or drop into a river, lake or pond. In addition, traditional burying process cannot clear out the germ and may act as a source of transmission. It should be buried in very deep hole and sterilise the place with proper medicine.
* If you notice any blister after handling sick animals, report immediately to the local health complex. Treatment is highly effective incase of cutaneous anthrax. The government healthcare facility providers ensured the reserve of medicine for treatment.
* If any area has been reported to have anthrax infection, immediately check every animal's vaccination status and give anthrax vaccine if not given recently.
* Properly sterilise the slaughtering place with commonly used oxidising agents such as peroxides, ethylene oxide, chlorine dioxide and liquid bleach products containing sodium hypochlorite.
E-mail: [email protected]