Bogor out to stop anthrax threat

Bogor out to stop anthrax threat

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

Amid rising concerns over the spread of anthrax in the region,
the Bogor Health and the Bogor Husbandry Agencies will increase
monitoring by coordinating with community health centers
(Puskesmas) and integrated health service posts (Posyandu), an
official of the Bogor Health Agency told The Jakarta Post on
Saturday.

"Their roles will be monitoring their respective areas to
detect a possible anthrax outbreak," the head of prevention and
eradication of infectious diseases and community health of the
Health Agency, Eulis Wulantari, said.

She said that her office had found an anthrax case in October
from Babakan Madang district and that the person had since
recovered.

Fears of anthrax infection in humans have been high following
the deaths of at least 20 head of cattle and water buffaloes in
Makassar, South Sulawesi, recently. After taking blood samples of
people with high exposure to cattle, four cases were confirmed.

West Java -- along with other livestock breeding areas such as
East Java and East Nusa Tenggara -- has long dealt with anthrax
infection in animals, but has never reached epidemic proportions
until last year when six people died in Babakan Madang district,
Bogor regency after they consumed goat meat infected with
anthrax.

Eulis said that there were at least nine endemic locations for
anthrax in the Bogor regency including the Babakan Madang,
Cibinong, Citeurep, Kelapa Nunggal, Tajur Halang, Sukaraja,
Jonggol, Sukamulya and Cilengsi districts.

"Human anthrax infection has also occurred in four districts,
namely Babakan Madang, Cibinong, Sukaraja and Citeurep," Eulis
said.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease that typically affects
livestock, but can be transmitted to humans either through
handling or eating infected meat that is undercooked. Anthrax
spores can also be inhaled and it is usually fatal.

Eulis said that anthrax infection usually happens at the start
of the rainy season when grass turns green and anthrax spores
thrive and are eaten by livestock.

Separately, the Bogor Husbandry Agency's prevention and
eradication of animal diseases head Tinnie Mulyawati said that
the Bogor Husbandry and Fisheries Agency has vaccinated some
30,000 livestock in Citaringgul village in Babakan Madang.

The agency has also disseminated information about the disease
through posters and brochures warning people about the dangers of
the disease.

"We urge breeders in Bogor to immediately report to us or
related institutions if they find symptoms of anthrax in sick
livestock," Tinnie said.