UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF BOVINE - LAOS: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
************************************************** ********
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Tue 19 May 2009
Source: Vientiane Times [edited]
<http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Vets.htm>
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Veterinarians have warned the public not to transport, trade, or eat
livestock that have died as a result of haemorrhagic disease, as
outbreaks spread across the country. Some people in rural areas
continue to eat the meat of infected animals, as they are unaware of
the disease or uninformed about preventative measures.
The disease can easily spread to other livestock and people may fall
ill with diarrhoea if they eat animals that have died from the
disease, said Livestock and Fisheries Department veterinarian Dr
Phouth Inthavong. "We should incinerate and bury infected carcasses
at the place where the animals died, or at other places far from
where other livestock graze," he said. Infected livestock suffer from
a swollen stomach and neck and a fever, after eating grass or water
alongside other infected animals, he said.
People should bury dead livestock in pits that should be dug at least
1-1.50 meters [3-5 feet] deep to prevent dogs or pigs unearthing
infected carcasses. They should be covered with soil and then lime
sprinkled on the surface. These burial practices will prevent the
disease infecting other buffalo and cattle, he said.
Xaythany district Livestock and Fisheries Unit Head, Mr Thongtem
Luangxay, said illegal livestock movement around the country causes
the disease to spread. There have also been reported cases of black
leg disease in Xaythany district, Vientiane. This disease bears some
similarities to haemorrhagic disease but was less likely to spread
across the country, he said.
According to Dr Phouth, livestock with this disease suffer from
swollen legs and find it difficult to walk. But the disease is not
fatal if animals are treated appropriately and in a timely fashion.
Anthrax, which could potentially cause far greater damage to
livestock populations, was unlikely to occur in Laos at present,
despite outbreaks having occurred in past decades, Dr Phouth said.
"The most obvious symptoms humans infected with the disease display
are boils on their face or body. They will also become ill after
eating infected meat," he said.
In light of these risks traders must be responsible and consumers
should exercise caution. "We should not eat any dead animals infected
with any disease, both to prevent an outbreak from occurring and in
the interests of public health and safety," Dr Phouth said.
[Byline: Khamphone Syvongxay]
--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[According to the article, a hemorrhagic septicemia outbreak across
Laos has been reported and people who consume meat from dead animals
will get diarrhea. Nonetheless, the article has also reported an
outbreak of black leg disease in Xaythany district. The signs of the
disease reported from Xaythany are very similar to hemorrhagic
septicemia. It was also reported that people who consume dead animal
meat would have had a "boils on their face or body." Due to limited
details on the clinical signs and outbreak investigation data in both
animals and humans, a differential diagnosis of the disease as
anthrax, blackleg, and hemorrhagic septicemia is very difficult.
PRO/MBDS would greatly appreciate receiving more information on this
outbreak in Laos.
Since there are reports of diarrhea and "boils on their face or body"
after eating meat from dead cattle, it is worth mentioning that
anthrax in humans, especially its skin or cutaneous form, may begin
as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within 1-2
days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer, usually 1-3
cm in diameter, with a characteristic black necrotic (dying) area in
the center (see picture of cutaneous anthrax at
<http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/anthrax-images/cutaneous.asp>).
Intestinal anthrax is characterized by an acute inflammation of the
intestinal tract. Initial signs include nausea, loss of appetite,
vomiting, and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood,
and severe diarrhea. In respiratory anthrax or inhalation form, the
initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the
symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. (more
information for anthrax is available at
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anthrax.html>).
For a map of Laos with provinces, see
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/laos.pdf>.
For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of Laos with links to other
recent ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS reports on events in Laos and
surrounding areas, see <http://healthmap.org/r/00cX>. - Mod.TD]
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2..._ID:1040,77663
************************************************** ********
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Tue 19 May 2009
Source: Vientiane Times [edited]
<http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Vets.htm>
------------------------------------------------------
Veterinarians have warned the public not to transport, trade, or eat
livestock that have died as a result of haemorrhagic disease, as
outbreaks spread across the country. Some people in rural areas
continue to eat the meat of infected animals, as they are unaware of
the disease or uninformed about preventative measures.
The disease can easily spread to other livestock and people may fall
ill with diarrhoea if they eat animals that have died from the
disease, said Livestock and Fisheries Department veterinarian Dr
Phouth Inthavong. "We should incinerate and bury infected carcasses
at the place where the animals died, or at other places far from
where other livestock graze," he said. Infected livestock suffer from
a swollen stomach and neck and a fever, after eating grass or water
alongside other infected animals, he said.
People should bury dead livestock in pits that should be dug at least
1-1.50 meters [3-5 feet] deep to prevent dogs or pigs unearthing
infected carcasses. They should be covered with soil and then lime
sprinkled on the surface. These burial practices will prevent the
disease infecting other buffalo and cattle, he said.
Xaythany district Livestock and Fisheries Unit Head, Mr Thongtem
Luangxay, said illegal livestock movement around the country causes
the disease to spread. There have also been reported cases of black
leg disease in Xaythany district, Vientiane. This disease bears some
similarities to haemorrhagic disease but was less likely to spread
across the country, he said.
According to Dr Phouth, livestock with this disease suffer from
swollen legs and find it difficult to walk. But the disease is not
fatal if animals are treated appropriately and in a timely fashion.
Anthrax, which could potentially cause far greater damage to
livestock populations, was unlikely to occur in Laos at present,
despite outbreaks having occurred in past decades, Dr Phouth said.
"The most obvious symptoms humans infected with the disease display
are boils on their face or body. They will also become ill after
eating infected meat," he said.
In light of these risks traders must be responsible and consumers
should exercise caution. "We should not eat any dead animals infected
with any disease, both to prevent an outbreak from occurring and in
the interests of public health and safety," Dr Phouth said.
[Byline: Khamphone Syvongxay]
--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[According to the article, a hemorrhagic septicemia outbreak across
Laos has been reported and people who consume meat from dead animals
will get diarrhea. Nonetheless, the article has also reported an
outbreak of black leg disease in Xaythany district. The signs of the
disease reported from Xaythany are very similar to hemorrhagic
septicemia. It was also reported that people who consume dead animal
meat would have had a "boils on their face or body." Due to limited
details on the clinical signs and outbreak investigation data in both
animals and humans, a differential diagnosis of the disease as
anthrax, blackleg, and hemorrhagic septicemia is very difficult.
PRO/MBDS would greatly appreciate receiving more information on this
outbreak in Laos.
Since there are reports of diarrhea and "boils on their face or body"
after eating meat from dead cattle, it is worth mentioning that
anthrax in humans, especially its skin or cutaneous form, may begin
as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within 1-2
days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer, usually 1-3
cm in diameter, with a characteristic black necrotic (dying) area in
the center (see picture of cutaneous anthrax at
<http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/anthrax-images/cutaneous.asp>).
Intestinal anthrax is characterized by an acute inflammation of the
intestinal tract. Initial signs include nausea, loss of appetite,
vomiting, and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood,
and severe diarrhea. In respiratory anthrax or inhalation form, the
initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the
symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. (more
information for anthrax is available at
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anthrax.html>).
For a map of Laos with provinces, see
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/laos.pdf>.
For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of Laos with links to other
recent ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS reports on events in Laos and
surrounding areas, see <http://healthmap.org/r/00cX>. - Mod.TD]
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2..._ID:1040,77663 
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