Anthrax

A total of 447 people in eight districts across the country have been infected with anthrax in the last three weeks, confirmed Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) yesterday.

"Since the disease symptoms are prominent, we are not continuing lab tests. However, we will run tests if a new area is affected," said IEDCR virologist ASM Alamgir.

He said treatment has been made available in all the affected districts and more than half the infected people have already been cured.

This year, Sirajganj district has witnessed the most number of infected, 207, which is likely to be overtaken as the medical team at Lalmonirhat claimed to have found 320 suspected patients at Kisamot Harati village.

Our Lalmonirhat correspondent reports: nine more people have been confirmed to be contracted anthrax at Kisamot Harati yesterday. The total number of infected in the district now stands at 85.

Anthrax infected Motiar Rahman said, "Four sick cows were slaughtered in the village a few days ago and at least 400 villagers consumed the meat as it sold at a lower price, Tk 100 a kg."

Meanwhile, Veterinary Field Assistant Saidur Rahman said four anthrax-infected cows died at Char Kulaghat and Baro Basuriya in Lalmonirhat sadar yesterday.

District livestock officer Abu Hossain Sarkar said officials are vaccinating the infected and suspected-to-be-infected cows in the district. But the office is suffering acute vaccine crisis.

He said there are at least 3.5 lakh cows in the district but the government has sent only 2,700 vaccines.

Meanwhile, two cows yesterday died of anthrax at Tampat village under Rangpur sadar upazila creating panic among the cattle farmers of the area.

Our Thakurgaon correspondent adds: one suspected anthrax infected patient had been admitted to Thakurgaon Sadar hospital yesterday.