Anthrax scare has gripped Angul district with more than 35 people falling ill with suspected symptoms of the disease at Suleipal village under Kaniha block.
Fifteen persons have been rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital here, while the rest are being treated at the local hospital in Kaniha. All the affected persons are from the same village and are displaying symptoms of cutaneous anthrax infections, that present as severe lesions or wounds on the skin.
“They have been admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital and are under the treatment of a special team of doctors. Though anthrax is yet to be confirmed, the symptoms are typical,” emergency medical officer of the SCBMCH Dr BM Moharana said. According to sources, people are suspected to have contracted the infection from dead animals. The villagers are reported to have consumed meat of about three dead goats. While cause of the death of the animals could not be ascertained, the people who had partaken the meat have begun to fall ill.
“We have sent 15 people to the SCBMCH on Tuesday. A team of health officials has been rushed to the affected village to identify if more persons are showing signs of the infection. Samples will also be collected for testing of anthrax spores,” Additional District Medical Officer (medical), Angul, Dr Ganesh Das said.
The suspected outbreak has become a cause of serious concern because Angul district is known to be non-endemic to the disease. With a substantial number of people from one locality presenting similar symptoms has triggered a panic in the region.
“There is no history of anthrax outbreak among animals in the district. This has come as a surprise to us. Immediately on receiving the information, we have dispatched a team comprising a veterinary surgeon and livestock inspectors to assess the situation and gather information on the animal behaviour and mortality patterns over the recent period. They will also ascertain if dead animals were local or were procured from outside recently. Samples from spot will also be collected to test for anthrax spores,” Chief District Veterinary Officer Dr Sachidananda Patnaik said.
