Beware of Zoonotic Anthrax Disease Ahead of Eid al-Adha 2026

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) is reminding the public to be wary of zoonotic diseases, or those transmissible from animals to humans, ahead of Eid al-Adha 2026.

Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Dr Andi Saguni, stated that one of the main diseases of concern is anthrax, which originates from livestock.

This disease is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can form spores and persist in the environment for a long time.

“The Ministry of Health emphasises the need for vigilance against zoonotic diseases from livestock during the Eid al-Adha sacrificial holiday. Zoonotic diseases are infections transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa,” said Andi during a press conference at the Office of the Indonesian Government Coordinating Body, Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/5/2026).

Andi explained that anthrax can spread through direct contact with infected animals, inhaling contaminated air, and consuming undercooked meat.

Transmission can also occur via soil and waste from the slaughter of contaminated animals.

Data from Kemenkes shows that anthrax cases reached 81 in 2023, with three deaths.

However, the number of cases has continued to decline from 2024 to 2026.

In 2025 and 2026, Kemenkes recorded no deaths from anthrax.

Most cases that have occurred are cutaneous anthrax.

“And with this vigilance, we hope to protect public health so that cases are minimal or non-existent, and we hope there will be no more deaths,” he stressed.