Anthrax outbreak kills 15 pigs in Kupang

Anthrax outbreak kills 15 pigs in Kupang

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A highly infectious disease
is believed to have killed at least 15 pigs and affected 25
others in Taru village, Central Kupang.

Kupang Regent Paul Lawa Rihi said here Tuesday that the
villagers who raised the pigs told him the animals died suddenly
after losing their appetite, getting red spots on their bodies,
then mucus oozed from their noses, and their legs and faces
swelled up.

"I don't even know what type of disease attacked the
villagers' pigs but it's clear that the pets were killed by the
disease."

Lawa Rihi said the regency sent samples of the dead pigs'
blood and brain tissue to a veterinarian laboratory in Bali for
further examination.

"We're now waiting for their findings," he said.

But head of the regency's livestock office Abraham Tome said
the infected pigs suffered from a disease called anthrax (caused
by the bacterium bacillus anthracis).

Tome said meat from the infected animals should not be eaten
as it may cause people to become sick or die.

According to Webster's Medical Dictionary, the disease is
transmissible to humans especially by handling infected products
and it is characterized by external ulcerating or lesions in the
lungs.

Tome called on local residents to report to livestock officers
if any animals, particularly cattle or sheep, have similar
symptoms.

Twenty-five of the infected pigs were cured after local vets
treated the ailing animals with vitamins and penicillin, he said.

Tome said anthrax was very dangerous and could be spread
through the air.

Initially, the infected pigs displayed no immediate, visible
symptoms, he said. (yac/bsr)