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