Say experts
Properly cooking meat in 120 degree Celsius temperature is an easy way to avert anthrax, said the experts in the capital yesterday at a seminar.
They also said the spore (germ) of anthrax cannot sustain in 120 degree Celsius.
But we are use to cook meat in a pot at 100 degree Celsius temperature which cannot ensure whether the anthrax spore is destroyed, they added in a seminar titled ‘Anthrax: Public Health Issues’ which was held at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Sources said as people are affected with the disease for the second time, it created panic among them and consumption of red meat has reduced in last few weeks.
Meanwhile, ten fresh anthrax cases in human were suspected in Pabna yesterday taking the number of the infected to 599 in the country since August 18.
Five cases were confirmed in Santhia and five in Faridpur upazila, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
But the government has taken various steps to control anthrax including vaccinating the cattle in affected areas, treating the patients and screening the cattle coming from India through the 22 points of the country, said State Minister for Health Mozibur Rahman Fakir in the seminar.
He also said that before the Eid-ul-Azha, public health experts would screen the cattle and certificates would be given. The livestock, health and LGRD ministry are working together in this regard and a National Steering Committee is already formed.
The experts in the seminar said the incidence of anthrax is showing a downtrend and it is likely to ease within a short time.
They also suggested blanket vaccination of the cattle, use of antibiotic to treat the cattle, burying the sick dead animals after being wrapped in polythene and increasing community awareness to tackle anthrax.
Dr Salahuddin Khan of ICDDR,B, Prof M A Jalil Chowdhury of BSMMU, Dr Benazir Ahmed, principal scientific officer of IEDCR, presented papers in the seminar while Vice Chancellor of BSMMU Prof Pran Gopal Datta, former vice chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam were also present.
