Anthrax Infection
76 more cases detected in Satkhira, Lalmonirhat
Seventy-six more cases of anthrax infection have been detected in Lalmonirhat and Satkhira, taking to 413 the total number of such cases in seven districts.
Twenty-six cases of anthrax infection were first detected in Sirajganj on August 19. Other places from where the infection has been reported are Pabna, Tangail, Kushita and Meherpur.
The New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat said 75 Anthrax cases were detected in three villages in the district headquarters and Kaliganj on Tuesday.
Sixty-five cases were detected at Kisamat Harati in the district headquarters, six at Shoalmari Char and four at Bhotmari in Kaliganj.
A five-member medical team headed by the Lalmonirhat civil surgeon Jahangir Alom, was instituted and the team was working in the area to ensure treatment of the anthrax-infected people.
Jahangir said the villagers had been infected with anthrax after they had eaten the meat of two cows which fell ill in the village a week ago.
Sirazul Islam Menhaz, 30, infected with anthrax, said, ‘We bought the two cows for lower prices after they had fallen ill. Later we slaughtered the cows and ate the beef.’
‘Some villagers also sent the meat to their relatives living at Sholamari and Botmari in Kaliganj,’ said Jobeda Begum, who has also been infected with anthrax.
The Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner, Mokhlesar Rahman Sarker, and the district livestock officer, Abu Hossain Sarker, visited the spot on Tuesday.
‘We have all kind the preparations for treating anthrax-infected people. We have a huge quantity of vaccines at our disposal,’ the civil surgeon said.
The correspondent in Satkhira said a woman had been infected with anthrax there.
The civil surgeon, SZ Atique, said Rasheda Khatun, 37, a resident of Madhumallardangi in the district headquarters, might have been infected with anthrax. He said they had sent her blood sample to Dhaka for lab testing.
The civil surgeon said this was the first of anthrax infection detected in the district, the civil surgeon said.
