Seven people infected by anthrax

Seven people infected by anthrax

BOGOR: The Veterinary Research Center (Balitvet) confirmed on
Monday that seven residents of Kadumanggu village, Babakan Madang
regency, Bogor, had contracted the disease anthrax.

The head of Bogor-based Balitvet, Darminto, said that after
examining blood samples from the infected residents they had
detected the presence of anthrax antibodies.

According to him, the antibody formation indicated that they
had suffered from the disease on their skin.

However, he said, no anthrax vaccination yet existed for
humans to prevent them from contracting the disease.

"There are two measures we have to adhere to, namely
vaccinating livestock and raising people's awareness not to
butcher or consume infected livestock," he said.

Darminto claimed that, although Bogor administration had
routinely vaccinated livestock and domesticated animals, cases of
anthrax infection continued to emerge.

"We need to find out what went wrong; maybe it was the poor
quality of the vaccines," he added.

The spores of Bacillus anthracis can survive in an animal's
carcass, bone, coat, skin or dried blood, and in the soil and
grass. In the dry season, animals and humans are exposed to the
bacteria spores through inhalation. --JP