Anthrax endemic to parts of Indonesia

Ida Indawati Khouw, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The word anthrax now strikes fear in the hearts of many. Yet, away from all the scare mongering, what is the possibility of anthrax infection in Indonesia?

Indonesia is vulnerable to the naturally occurring form of the disease, due to its agricultural soil and tropical climate, sources say.

The disease was first recorded here in 1885; Jambi, Bogor and Purwakarta in West Java, Boyolali and Salatiga in Central Java and Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, are endemic areas.

Acute infectious anthrax disease is caused by the spore- forming bacterium anthracis, a bacterium which can be found around the globe but is most common in agricultural regions. The spores can live in the soil but are vulnerable to outside elements, such as sunlight. Humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products.

"The spores can be cultivated under certain media, which are then crystallized to form a powder. The spores will easily multiply in the body," said Mangku Sitepoe, a veterinarian and expert on zoonosis, or diseases that are communicable from animals to humans.

Sitepoe said spores could remain in soil for 20 to 25 years, but more dangerous was the hardiest strain that could survive for some 10 minutes in water boiled at 100 degrees Celsius.

"Thus it is important to cook meat for several minutes after the water reaches 100 degrees Celsius," he said.

He added that consumers of roasted meat, such as satay, must make certain the meat has been thoroughly cooked, otherwise it might harbor spores.

Anthrax contracted by inhalation is most often found in people who work with animal hair, wool and hide, such as brushmakers and milkers.

"It's important for people to wear special masks and make sure they're free from cuts when doing this kind of work," he said.