Vaccination

Thailand Steps Up Border Control Of Livestock After Anthrax Outbreak Is Reported In Neighboring Laos

Thailand's government has ordered officials to closely monitor livestock along the border with Laos after more than 50 people were reported to have contracted anthrax in the neighboring country

ByThe Associated Press

March 29, 2024, 4:54 AM

BANGKOK -- Thailand's government has ordered officials to closely monitor livestock along the border with Laos after more than 50 people were reported to have contracted anthrax in the neighboring country.

Thai authorities have been working closely with those in Laos after receiving reports of the outbreak and have prepared vaccines in case of infections being detected in Thailand, said Narong Leangcharuen, director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services of the Department of Livestock Development.

In an interview with Thai state broadcaster NBT on Friday, Narong said the transport of livestock across the border is being strictly controlled. He warned livestock farmers to quarantine animals from Laos and immediately report any suspicious illnesses or deaths.

Thailand has received reports that 54 people in Laos have been infected with the disease, Thai government spokesperson Chai Watcharong said in a statement Thursday. He said Thailand's Department of Disease Control is coordinating with local authorities, especially along the border, to keep a close watch on the situation.

Media in Laos earlier this month reported livestock deaths and cases of people contracting the disease in the southern province of Champasak, which borders Thailand. There are currently no reports of human fatalities.

Anthrax is a rare but serious disease caused by bacteria that primarily affects grazing animals. It can spread to humans through contact with or consumption of the infected animals, and can be deadly, though the risk of human-to-human transmission is low.

Reports were inconsistent in state-controlled media in Laos, which is a single-party communist state.

Nanthasan Vannavong, a deputy in the health office in Champasak, acknowledged the outbreak in a media briefing earlier this week, cautioning people against consuming sick livestock.

Thailand's most recent reported case of anthrax in humans was in 2000, according to the Department of Livestock Development.

Anthrax Alert In Thailand After Laos Reports Over 50 Cases

54 cases of anthrax have been reported in Laos, and Thailand, which shares a border with it, has put government officials on alert. Thai authorities have been working closely with those in Laos after receiving reports of the outbreak and have prepared vaccines in case of infections being detected in Thailand, said Narong Leangcharuen, director of the Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services of the Department of Livestock Development.There are currently no reports of human fatalities. Thailand had reported cases of anthrax in humans in 2000.Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It primarily affects animals but can also infect humans through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax can manifest in various forms, including cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal, with symptoms ranging from skin lesions to severe respiratory distress or gastrointestinal symptoms. While rare, inhalation anthrax is particularly deadly if left untreated. Symptoms of anthrax vary depending on the type of exposure. Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, typically presents with painless skin lesions that develop into ulcers with a black center. Inhalation anthrax can cause flu-like symptoms initially, progressing to severe respiratory distress, chest discomfort, and shock. Gastrointestinal anthrax results in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever, often leading to severe gastrointestinal distress and potentially fatal complications. In all forms, symptoms may worsen rapidly, leading to systemic infection and, if untreated, can result in death. Early recognition of symptoms and prompt medical intervention are critical for successful treatment of anthrax infections.

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Anthrax spores are highly resistant and can persist in the environment for long periods, posing a potential bioterrorism threat.Preventing anthrax involves several measures. Vaccination is available for certain high-risk groups, such as veterinarians and laboratory workers. For the general population, avoiding contact with infected animals and contaminated animal products is essential. Proper hygiene, including thorough handwashing and avoiding consumption of undercooked meat from potentially contaminated animals, can reduce the risk of gastrointestinal anthrax. Additionally, practicing safe handling procedures when working with potentially contaminated materials, such as wearing protective clothing and using appropriate disinfection protocols, can minimize the risk of exposure to anthrax spores. Awareness of potential bioterrorism threats and prompt reporting of suspicious activities can also aid in prevention efforts.(Inputs from AP)

What Is Anthrax Disease? Can It Be Transmitted To Humans? All You Need To Know

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After a deer on the IIT Madras campus was reported dead due to anthrax, it has alarmed human beings about the possibility of this zoonotic disease infection that's caused by bacteria. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human beings can get sick with anthrax infections if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. 

Here are more details about Anthrax infections, symptoms, and preventive measures.

What is Anthrax?

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis which is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria. The bacteria is found naturally in soil and is commonly known to affect domestic and wild animals across the world.

Though there is no evidence of anthrax transmitting from person to person, it can infect man when anthrax spores get into the body. These spores get activated after getting inside the body. The bacteria then multiply and spread inside the body, producing toxins, resulting in severe illness. Spores tend to enter a man's body when a person breathes in spores, eats food or drinks water contaminated with spores, or gets spores in a cut or wound in the skin.

The infectious disease is rare and is most common in agricultural regions of Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, central and southwestern Asia, southern and eastern Europe, and the Caribbean.

Anthrax Symptoms

Anthrax can cause severe illness in both humans and animals that vary based on four common routes of anthrax infection. In several cases, symptoms develop within six days of exposure to the bacteria. While in the case of inhalation of anthrax spores, symptoms take more than six weeks to appear.

Some of the common symptoms include Fever, chills, swelling in the neck or glands, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may be bloody, headache, stomachache, redness in your eyes and face, pain, and swelling in the abdomen. 

There was a report of anthrax used for nonanimal transmission as a bioterrorism attack that occurred in the United States in 2001. Twenty-two people developed the infection after being exposed to spores sent via the mail, of which five died.

(Image: Unsplash)

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