Latest news with #BacillusAnthracis
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning over outbreak of killer ANTHRAX in holiday hotspot - 4 hospitalised and 1 dead
Thailand has reported its first fatality from deadly anthrax in 25 years, with four others infected with bacteria. All of the sick individuals in the popular holiday destination are thought to have contracted the disease after contact with infected cattle or animal products. Anthrax, a disease famed for its links to bioterrorism, is a life-threatening infection caused by the spores of the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. If these spores enter cuts or scrapes, known as cutaneous anthrax, they can spread through the body and produce toxins, causing severe illness and death. Four initial cases of cutaneous anthrax, three men and one woman in their mid-30s-to-late-50s, were reported in Thailand early in May. One patient, a 53 year-old man according to local reports, later succumbed to complications caused by the bacterial infection. Thai health officials said the man sought medical aid for a lesion on his hand that developed almost two weeks after slaughtering a cow. His condition rapidly deteriorated as the lesion became darker— a telltale sign of the disease—with his lymph nodes swelling and he started to experience episodes of dizziness and convulsions. He then died, just three days after initially seeking help at a local hospital. A subsequent case, in addition to the four others, was then detected on May 28. Three other patients, while needed to be hospitalised, have subsequently made a full recovery and been discharged from hospital. Testing of samples taken from the patients, all from Mukdahan Province in the country's northeast which borders with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, confirmed they had all been infected with anthrax. Other tests, carried out on the deceased patient's kitchen items and of meat taken from the cattle, also confirmed the presence of anthrax. Officials, racing to track any more cases, identified 636 other people at risk of anthrax exposure either from working with the infected livestock or who had eaten meat from them. While two more people fell ill during this time with diarrhoea and fever, testing for anthrax came back negative. Thai officials have now implemented a decontamination clean of 23 households deemed to be at high risk of the infection. They have also rolled out an animal vaccination programme in the local area in a bid to prevent any more cases. The World Health Organisation said the risk of the outbreak spreading locally or internationally is low. No travel advice regarding anthrax cases in Thailand has been issued by the British Government. Anthrax, which isn't a contagious disease between people, is typically easily remedied if a patient is treated early, especially in countries like the UK. A handful of anthrax cases are reported in Britain each year. According to the latest NHS data three anthrax needed treatment in England in 2023-2024. None of these were the cutaneous anthrax but instead linked to inhalation of anthrax spores or anthrax sepsis, where spores enter the blood stream directly, such as through a needle in drug use.
Malay Mail
11-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
No anthrax cases in Malaysia to date, Vet Dept urges vigilance after deadly outbreak in Thailand
PUTRAJAYA, May 11 — Malaysia has remained free of anthrax since the last reported case to the World Organisation for Animal Health in 1976. In a statement today, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) confirmed that no cases of anthrax have been reported in the country to date. DVS noted that it takes the recent anthrax outbreak in Thailand seriously, particularly following the confirmation of a human fatality due to anthrax infection on May 1, as reported by Thailand's Department of Disease Control. The case was linked to cattle slaughtering and consuming raw beef in Don Tan District, Mukdahan Province, northeastern Thailand, which borders the Lao People's Democratic Republic. 'At present, we remain vigilant and have requested assurance from the Thai authorities that no animals or animal products from high-risk anthrax areas are being exported to Malaysia,' the statement read. The department explained that anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, a zoonotic disease, i.e., an animal disease that can infect humans and may be fatal. 'This disease can infect livestock and humans through direct contact with spores produced by Bacillus anthracis. 'It can cause a high mortality rate among livestock. Common clinical signs in animals include high fever, which may cause sudden death,' it said. DVS urged livestock farmers to immediately make a report if they detect any of these symptoms in their animals. 'The department has also requested that Thai authorities provide updates on the current situation, measures taken to control the movement of animals and animal products within Thailand, and their contingency plan for managing the outbreak. 'Malaysia imports live cattle and buffalo from Thailand, and all livestock entering the country must undergo strict veterinary inspections before being allowed in,' read the statement. As a precautionary measure, the DVS continues to carry out control and prevention activities to ensure Malaysia remains free of anthrax. 'DVS advises and urges livestock farmers to enhance farm biosecurity, especially in preparation for the upcoming Hari Raya Korban celebrations. 'The health status of all new livestock brought onto farms must be verified through inspections by certified veterinary officers and accompanied by valid livestock transfer permits. 'DVS calls on all stakeholders, especially livestock farmers, to stay informed on the latest developments concerning animal disease outbreaks and to immediately report any clinical signs of disease in their animals,' the statement added. — Bernama
