Latest news with #anthrax
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
The World Health Organization (WHO) actively responds to anthrax epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
In mid-May, 57-year-old Pierre* was admitted to a health centre in the Lubero area after suffering from severe itching on his right hand, followed by pruritus and a swelling of his forearm. He was treated and, given the unusual symptoms, samples were collected and sent for analysis at the laboratory of the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Goma. An alert was previously issued at the end of March 2025 following the death of dozens of buffalo and hippopotamuses in Virunga National Park in North Kivu. Samples taken on 29 March from a recently deceased hippopotamus and examined at the Goma veterinary laboratory revealed the presence of spores of the bacillus responsible for anthrax. Anthrax is a bacterial zoonosis (disease transmissible from animals to humans) that generally affects ruminants (cows, sheep and goats). Humans can become infected through contact with a sick animal or contaminated products (such as meat, blood, wool, hides and bones). All forms of human anthrax (cutaneous, gastrointestinal and respiratory) require hospitalization and medical treatment. To ensure a multi-sectoral response to this concerning health situation, the national departments of health, environment, fisheries and livestock, with support from partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, FAO and CDC Africa, have put the 'One Health' approach into practice. The close collaboration between the human, animal and environmental health services is designed to protect lives in response to health emergencies. A delegation from these departments and organisations visited the Binza and Rutshuru health zones from 25 to 28 May 2025 to strengthen surveillance and the response to outbreaks of suspected cases of anthrax in the Binza and Lubero health zones. 'One of the high-impact measures led by the national authorities with the support of partners was the development of the national multi-sector anthrax preparedness and response plan. Through this common approach to the response, we can ensure a comprehensive response, from prevention activities to the clinical management of patients. We are confident that this health threat will soon be over,' said Dr Aline Katerekwa Ntamushigo, Medical Supervisor at the National Programme for Emergencies and Humanitarian Action (NPEHA). 'Our discussions with those involved on the ground are helping us to manage this risk effectively to protect people, animals and the environment.' Since the announcement of the epidemic, WHO has supported the response on several levels. Dr Célestin Ndaliko, epidemiologist in charge of surveillance at the WHO Office in the DRC, was a member of the response team that went to Binza. 'There are major challenges in terms of disease detection. So, every anthrax investigation becomes an act of resilience, a glimmer of hope to prevent the spread of this devastating disease.' As of 26 May 2025, 24 suspected human anthrax cases had been reported, alongside the deaths of 9 goats, one cow, 60 hippopotamuses and 27 buffalo reported in four health zones in the eastern province of North Kivu. 'Our support has been provided at several levels, and we are particularly keen to provide appropriate care for those affected. In most cases, the disease can be cured with antibiotics, which must be prescribed by a health professional,' explained Dr Leopold Ouedraogo, Emergency Manager in the provinces of North and South Kivu. WHO has made more than four tonnes of medicines available to 12 health facilities, a large quantity of which has been handed over to the authorities in the Binza health zone in Rutshuru territory. 'So far, even if our Binza health zone has not yet recorded any human cases, we have what it takes to prevent and be ahead of what could happen,' said Dr Bernard Kakule, Chief Medical Officer for the Binza health zone. WHO has played a central role in cross-border coordination between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, facilitating communication and collaboration between the two countries in response to the re-emergence of anthrax in humans and animals. Surveillance has thus been strengthened, notably by activating the 'One Health' unit in Rutshuru, to ensure early detection and rapid response in high-risk health zones by integrating the human, animal and environmental dimensions of health. To build local capacity, the WHO has also supported the training of community relays, the development of awareness-raising materials and the conduct of public and door-to-door awareness-raising campaigns on disease prevention measures. The Organisation also donated prevention kits (chlorine, hand sanitizers), essential medicines and medical equipment for treatment, and encouraged collaboration with technical partners such as INRB to improve epidemiological surveillance. Despite security and logistical challenges, WHO's support has enabled the foundations to be laid for a coordinated response, while highlighting the need for greater commitment to community awareness-raising, the safe management of carcasses and the vaccination of animals at risk. Since the epidemic was announced, 24 people have been treated in health facilities in the Binza and Lubero health zones, including Pierre, who has been discharged from the hospital and resumed his life. On the ground, our teams are still working hard to continue protecting people and their herds, working together in the face of a common threat. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Major anthrax outbreak at holiday hotspot after one dead and four hospitalised – and signs of infection to spot
A DEADLY anthrax outbreak has struck one of Thailand's top tourist areas, killing a man and hospitalising four others, health officials say. Authorities are now racing to trace the source of the highly dangerous livestock disease and stop it from spreading. 3 3 3 Anthrax is a serious, life-threatening infection caused by spores of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Known for its links to bioterrorism, the spores can lie dormant in soil for decades before infecting humans through cuts or contact with animals. All those infected in Thailand likely caught it through contact with infected cattle or animal products, local health authories have said. The 53-year-old victim, from Mukdahan near the Laos border, died after developing a dark lesion on his hand days after slaughtering a cow on April 24. By April 27, his lymph nodes had swollen and he suffered dizziness and seizures. He sought treatment at Don Tan Hospital but died on April 30, just three days after first getting help, local reports say. Lab tests confirmed anthrax infection. This is Thailand's first anthrax death in 25 years. Four others in the same province also fell ill, all linked to infected cattle or meat. Three have recovered, while a fifth case was reported on May 28. Mystery 'Island of Death' where visitors are BANNED after WW2 experiments Officials have quarantined animals, vaccinated cattle within five kilometres, and disinfected 23 high-risk households. Samples from meat, knives, chopping boards, and soil tested positive for anthrax spores. More than 600 people exposed to infected livestock or meat are being monitored. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said local authorities had 'identified and provided post-exposure prophylaxis to all high-risk contacts,' and 'implemented a robust set of control measures.' They added: 'Currently, due to the robust public health measures implemented by Thailand, the risk of international disease spread through animal movement remains low.' But they warned of risks to trade and tourism if the outbreak isn't contained. 'Any decisions regarding international travel and trade should be based on a thorough risk assessment and should be proportionate to the actual public health risks involved.' No travel advice has been issued by the UK government. In the UK, anthrax is rare but not unheard of. NHS data shows three cases in England during 2023-2024, mostly inhalational anthrax or sepsis linked to drug use rather than cutaneous infections. Thailand's health ministry has urged farmers not to slaughter sick animals and to cook meat thoroughly to prevent further infections. Signs of anthrax infection What is anthrax? Anthrax is caused by a spore-forming bacteria called Bacillus anthracis and typically affects cows, sheep and goats but can also spread to people. The bacteria produce potent toxins which are responsible for the symptoms. The most common form is anthrax of the skin, when spores get into cuts or scratches, leading to black bumpy sores, headaches, muscle aches, fever and vomiting. Gastrointestinal anthrax is caught from eating meat from an infected animal and can lead to severe abdominal pain, vomiting of blood and severe diarrhoea. The rarest and most severe form of human anthrax is when the spores reach the lungs, which can cause severe breathing problems. Inhaled anthrax, if untreated, can have a fatality rate as high as 90 per cent.
South China Morning Post
04-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police hunt for man over anthrax hoax at social welfare office
Hong Kong police are hunting for a man who fled a social welfare office after telling staff he had left anthrax on the counter. An argument erupted between a staff member and the man at the office of the Social Security Field Unit inside One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre at about 1.10pm on Wednesday. The man placed pieces of A4-sized paper on the counter and said they contained anthrax powder. He then fled the scene. Staff evacuated the office and alerted police. Officers found no traces of the substance on the paper. The case is being investigated as 'criminal intimidation'. It is being handled by officers from the Mong Kok district investigation team. No arrests have been made.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- 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
15-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Kelantan on high alert: Anthrax fears drive border clampdown on illegal livestock ahead of Aidiladha
KOTA BARU, May 15 — Kelantan police have tightened border security to curb cattle smuggling ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha, following reports of anthrax-related deaths in Thailand earlier this month. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said his department is working closely with relevant agencies, including the Department of Veterinary Services and border authorities, to prevent the illegal entry of livestock into the country. 'The deaths have been linked to the slaughter and consumption of raw meat in Don Tan district, Mukdahan province, Thailand, which borders Laos, according to a report by Thailand's Department of Disease Control. 'Kelantan police continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, patrols and inter-agency cooperation to safeguard national security and combat smuggling,' he told reporters after the monthly assembly at the Kelantan police contingent headquarters today. Mohd Yusoff also reminded operators and livestock farmers not to bring in cattle through illegal routes and to use only authorised checkpoints at the ICQS Complex to ensure proper health screening is conducted. He stressed that livestock smuggling not only harms the local livestock industry but also poses a risk of spreading infectious diseases to humans. Mohd Yusoff added that the Border Security Coordination Committee's Working Group Meeting with the National Security Council has identified the need to enhance enforcement against livestock smuggling activities. Between 2024 and April 2025, a total of 390 cows and 25 buffaloes were seized in 36 cases, with an estimated value of nearly RM4 million. In a related development, Mohd Yusoff confirmed that police have received information regarding alleged abuse of power involving border enforcement personnel. 'Preliminary information indicates possible misconduct related to smuggling, including livestock. A special task force has been formed and investigations are underway by the Kelantan police intelligence division,' he said. — Bernama
