11 Anthrax cases confirmed in Rangpur

Staff Reporter :

Eleven people have been infected with anthrax in Kaunia, Mithapukur, and Pirgacha upazilas of Rangpur, sparking concern among locals.

Health experts have urged residents not to panic but to remain vigilant, stressing that sick animals must never be slaughtered.

According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), anthrax is a dangerous zoonotic disease that poses risks to both humans and livestock in Bangladesh, particularly in northern regions.
The disease primarily affects herbivores and is often fatal for them.

Humans may contract it through direct contact with infected animals, handling contaminated hides, bones, or wool, eating raw or undercooked meat, or even inhaling anthrax spores. The incubation period varies from 1 to 20 days.

Though human cases are relatively rare, delayed treatment can be life-threatening.

“Slaughtering sick cows or goats can cause anthrax to spread. Our clear advice is: do not slaughter ill animals and avoid touching them. This is not about fear, but about caution. People should stay alert without panicking,” Dr. Ahmed Nawsher Alam, principal scientific officer at IEDCR told journalists.

Public health specialist and former IEDCR advisor Dr. M Mushtuq Husain also cautioned, “To prevent anthrax, sick cattle, goats, or other domestic animals should not be slaughtered. They need treatment, and if they die, they must be buried deep in the ground. Dead animals should never be dumped in canals or wetlands.”

Common symptoms of anthrax include fever, round ulcer-like skin sores, and occasional itching. Treatment with antibiotics and medicated lotions is available at upazila health complexes. Experts therefore emphasize preventive measures over panic.

IEDCR confirmed that this is the first reported anthrax outbreak in Rangpur. In response, the Department of Livestock has started vaccinating animals in the affected upazilas.

Anthrax is considered endemic in Bangladesh, with small outbreaks occurring almost every year since 2010. In 2019, IEDCR launched an active anthrax surveillance programme in nine upazilas across Sirajganj, Pabna, Meherpur, Tangail, and Rajshahi, based on previous outbreak patterns.