Anthrax scare drives people to hospitals

Anthrax scare drives people to hospitals

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: An anthrax outbreak in Tamangapa
subdistrict here in the past week has sparked fear among local
residents.

More than 1,000 residents had flocked to the local
community health office from Monday to Friday for a checkup. Out
of the 1,000 residents, 27 had blood samples taken and these
samples had been sent to a veterinary body in Maros regency to
test for anthrax.

Two samples out of the 27 had been released by the Maros
veterinary body and these were declared negative, said chief of
Tamangapa community health center, Maryati. Anthrax has been a
cause for concern after several water buffaloes and cows were
found dead recently. The anthrax cases were the first ever
reported in Makassar. -- JP