After mad cows, anthrax comes

BOGOR: Blood tests by Bogor health agency officials have confirmed that three residents of Pisang village, Karadenan subdistrict, Sukaraja regency, Bogor, have been infected with anthrax.

It is believed they contracted the disease from goat meat they had ate.

Salam, 32, still had lesions on the palm of his left hand and right calf, while his son Syaiful, 10, and nephew Atim, 17, have been certified cured.

The agency's director of communicable diseases, Sudadi, said the three had been infected on Dec. 25, 2003, after consuming the meat of a sick goat that Salam had slaughtered.

For the next two days, according to the family, the three suffered from itching all over their bodies. On Dec. 29, lesions started to develop on their bodies.

Despite their condition, they did not see a doctor until Jan. 7.

Karadenan subdistrict head Nana Mulyana said that Salam had refused to have the goat vaccinated against anthrax. Livestock in the area are supposed to be vaccinated every six months.

Local people usually sacrifice goats and cows on the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, which falls on Feb. 1. -- JP