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.