August

Bangladesh-35 infected with anthrax from beef in Pabna
30 Aug 2009
BDnews24.com [edited][ProMed]
At least 35 people in Pabna [Rajshahi Division] have been infected with anthrax after consuming beef infected with the bacterium, the district health department said on Sunday [30 Aug 2009].
Pabna district health department said an anthrax infected cow in Sathia upazila [subdistrict] was slaughtered and sold on [26 Aug 2009] in Soto Pathailhat village, leaving at least 35 locals infected with the bacterium after they consumed the contaminated meat.
Doctors confirmed the cases of anthrax infection when a number of the victims went to a health complex seeking medical assistance.
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01 Sep 2009-Anthrax
The Daily Star [edited][ProMed]
09 Sep 2009-SMS Gateway data collection in Bangladesh
FAOAIDEnews Avian Influenza Disease Emergency Situation Update 60, 30 Jun 2009 [accessed 8 Sep 2009, edited][ProMed]

India-Anthrax
24 Aug 2009
Press Trust of India [edited][ProMed]
A 45 year old dairy labourer was today [24 Aug 2009] hospitalized here with suspected human anthrax, an infection contracted from cattle. The labourer, belonging to nearby Meermulikottai village, was admitted to the a hospital here with boils on his hand and was found to be suffering from the rare human anthrax. A doctor said the man, employed by a dairy owner to milk the cattle, had developed the boils after he came in contact with an affected cow.

Laos-Anthrax kills 9 people in Saravan
12 Aug 2009
Vientiane Times [edited][ProMed]
Nine people in the southern province of Saravan have died and a further 66 are receiving treatment after eating beef from cattle, which died of anthrax, a top provincial health official has confirmed.
Saravan Health Department Director said yesterday [11 Aug 2009] the victims were from the villages of Kha Dub, Khieng Khong, and Baengoudom, some 20 km from the provincial capital.
The official said the provincial authorities had collected samples from the animals and sent them to be tested in Vientiane. The tests found that the cattle died from anthrax, and this was the main cause of the human casualties.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacteriumBacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in wild and domestic animals such cattle, sheep, goats, and camels. The disease can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals.
The official said the provincial authorities had launched a health campaign in the outbreak area, urging the villagers to avoid eating animals that died of disease. The health officials also urged the villagers to cook beef and wash their hands before eating food.

July

India-Anthrax creates Panic in Koraput of Orissa
24 Jul 2009
Orissa Diary [edited][ProMed]
Panic is occurring in the tribal villages of Koraput due to anthrax, a disease which comes from cattle. In Koraput District it rears up every year. Like every year before, this year some 56 persons are affected by the disease and are under treatment; according to government reports 3 have died but unofficially 4 have died. In the Semiliguda Block of Koraput District, one died in Kunduli Village and 2 from Gunthaput according to the government reports. In the past 7 days, 8 people were affected in Gamphaguda Village.
Last year [2008], after the death of 4 anthrax patients in Luhaba Village, the Central NICD investigation team investigated this area and collected sand from the areas. Since the teams returned from the Luhaba the nearby villages were also affected this year.
Related Stories
01 Jul 2009-3 more anthrax cases detected in Orissa
Indianexpress.com [edited][ProMed]
Official sources said 3 fresh anthrax cases were detected on Wednesday [1 Jul 2009] from Orissa's Sundargarh, barely a week after 12 people in the district tested positive for the disease. All 3, aged 55, 30, and 50, hailed from Dhudinua village of the district, nearly 80 km (50 mi) from Rourkela. The patients were undergoing treatment at Balishankara primary health centre, the sources said, adding that a medical team from the district headquarters has rushed to the village.
A similar report of an anthrax outbreak was reported last week [27 Jun
2009] in Pindapathar village of the district, where 12 people were found affected by the disease.
The tribal people living in remote villages of the district, particularly in Subdega and Balishankara blocks, often eat meat of dead domestic animals, they said, adding that an awareness campaign was launched among them.

June

India-12 people affected by anthrax in Orissa
27 Jun 2009
The Hindu, Press Trust of India (PTI) report [edited][ProMed]
At least 12 people were suffering from anthrax after they ate raw beef at Pindapathar village in Sundargarh district of Orissa. Of the affected, the condition of 4 was stated to be critical at Sundargarh district headquarters hospital, official sources said. The villagers fell ill after eating the [meat] of the a dead cow last week, sources said.
A team of government doctors from the hospital and paramedics have set up camps in the villages of the area. Door to door medical check-ups were being conducted and the tribals were being told not to eat raw meat of dead domestic animals.

India-Anthrax, human, bovine
16 Jun 2009
Times of India [edited][ProMed]
For the 1st time, anthrax has struck the Bondas, a primitive tribal group with a population of 10,000. Doctors said as many as 10 are down with the disease at Andrahal village in Malkangiri district's Khairaput block. There are no reports of deaths yet.
Healthcare is virtually non-existent in the village. All it has is a midwife center. There is also a primary health centre and an ayurvedic dispensary at Mudulipada, about 13 km from Andrahal.
Medical officials, however, claimed that medical teams are visiting Bonda villages and distributing medicines. Bondas, one of the primitive tribes in Orissa, live in the Bonda hills, which cover about 130 sq km in Mudulipada and Andrahal panchayats in Malkangiri.
Related stories
20 Jun 2009-Anthrax
Times of India [edited][ProMed]
The state government has prepared an action plan to wipe out anthrax that has struck the Bondas, a vanishing tribe.

India-Anthrax affects 15 families in Koraput district in Orissa
14 Jun 2009
VideosFromIndia.********.com, Asian News International (ANI) report [edited][ProMed]
At least 15 families fell ill due to anthrax in the tribal dominated Koraput district of Orissa. Locals said that they fell ill after consuming contaminated meat of the cattle. Anthrax, a highly infectious animal disease, spreads every year in Koraput district at the beginning of the raining season.

India-Anthrax
4 Jun 2009
The Indian Express [edited][ProMed]
An anthrax scare gripped Nandol village in Gandhinagar district, with reports of 23 sheep dying under mysterious conditions on Sunday [31 May 2009]. It was later confirmed that the animals died because of the deadly disease. The area in Dehgam taluka [administrative division] has been declared an anthrax prone zone, while no fresh cases have come to light so far.
The district administration has sent 4 surveillance teams and launched a vaccination drive since Monday [1 Jun 2009] after receiving reports of sheep dying in a farm located between Nandol and Ahmedpur. District development officer Avantika Singh said that all precautionary measures were being taken to prevent its spread.

May

India-6 new anthrax cases confirmed
12 May 2009
The Hindu [edited] [ProMed]
Six new cases of cutaneous anthrax were detected among Kondhs – a primitive tribal group -- at Karlapodur and Hatikal hamlets in Laxmipuram panchayat, about 20 km (12.4 mi) from [Munchingput, Visakhapatnam district] and 200 km (124 mi) from Visakhapatnam even as the Health Department stepped up its effort to contain the spread of the bacterial infection.
In new cases -- 5 of them from Karlapodur on Andhra-Orissa border [ages: 25, 20, 60, 28, 26] were confirmed after the Kondhus consumed the meat of a cow carcass on [23 Apr 2009]. With this the number of patients affected by anthrax after consuming dead meat/cutting the carcasses has increased to 65 since the 1st case was reported in March [2009].
The [5] patients and the lone case from Hatikal, 17, developed skin infection and multiple wounds on their body since past 2 to 7 days.
[A 35 year old man] from Hatikada who left the hospital after 3 weeks of treatment against medical advice, was admitted to a community health centre 2 days ago [10 May 2009].
Responding to the gravity of the situation and to educate the tribals against consumption of dead meat, the CPI(M) [Communist Party of India (Marxist)] opened gruel centers at Karlapodur and Mebha in Makalavaram panchayat on Monday [11 May 2009].

India-Anthrax, human, bovine(Andhra Pradesh)
10 May 2009
Thaindian News Asian News International (ANI) report [edited][ProMed]
An outbreak of anthrax in the remote areas has been reported from
Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 51 cases of anthrax are reported so far. Out of this, 11 people [have] died and 5 persons are showing the symptoms of anthrax.
To allay the panic among the people, a medical official has announced that all possible measures were taken to counter the disease.

March

India –Anthrax in bovine
30 Mar 2009
Express Buzz [edited] [Promed]
In what is reported to be an isolated outbreak of anthrax in the country, 5 persons were diagnosed with it in Prakasam district today [30 Mar 2009]. They were taken ill after consuming meat [from] affected sheep reared at Kalluru village in Kurichedu mandal of Prakasam district.
Experts from the Animal Husbandry Department confirmed reports that 200 of the sheep reared in Kalluru village were affected with anthrax, while there are chances of many more such cases. Following reports [that] 200 sheep died due to a mysterious disease, the veterinary doctor at Kurichedu mandal rushed to the village and alerted deputy director of Animal Husbandry. The Animal Husbandry Department has set up a medical camp at the village and also conducted tests on people to check if they have been affected by the disease. It is reported that around 8000 more sheep were being reared within 5 km (3 mi) radius of Kalluru village and that the Animal Husbandry Department had formed special teams and will visit all the villages and vaccinate the sheep as a precautionary measure.

India–Anthrax
24 Mar 2009
The Statesman, Kolkata [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, at least 4 people have died of suspected anthrax and many others seriously afflicted in a couple of weeks at Chancharaguda area under Bissamcuttack block of Rayagada district [Orissa state]. The exact number of the victims has not yet been ascertained as the tribal people usually prefer "disari" (a traditional village doctor) to professional doctors, and any case of death while under treatment with the disaris remains unreported, sources said.The medical officials were informed about the deaths of [the 4 named dead, ages 30-45]. Many others were checked by the health service personnel. Their condition is said to be out of danger. A 12-year-old boy is reportedly undergoing treatment at Bissamcuttack Christian Hospital.
A doctor opined that consumption of stale meat may be the prime reason.

India -Anthrax
20 Mar 2009
The CNN Wire [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, 15 people have been diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh over the past week. It is reported that the outbreak has occurred in some half-dozen villages of the state's Vishakhapatnam district. Four of the patients have been hospitalized, with one in critical condition. The story goes on by explaining that the disease has been blamed on [infected meat from] cows and goats. However, veterinary experts surveying the district have found no infection among livestock.

Myanmar -Anthrax suspected in Cattle(Kachin State)
16 Mar 2009
Earth Watch [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, March has brought with it the dreaded Anthrax in Burma's northern Kachin State capital Myitkyina. It is reported that the disease has been killing cattle since early this month. Heads of cattle owned by people [in] Myitkyina died within 24 hours after they revealed symptoms where the foot trembled, reports in the Myanmar media in exile said. According to veterinary doctors the symptoms of The. The veterinary teams are injecting anti-Anthrax vaccines into cattle in villages in and around Myitkyina. The junta authorities are, however, going about tackling the disease quietly. It has made no public announcement about the disease neither has it bothered to warn people not to sell meat of cattle dying from Anthrax in local markets. Locals believe that the disease has spread due to weather changes in the state.

February

India-Cutaneous anthrax,West Bengal, 2007
20 Feb 2009
EID March 2009 [edited] [Promed]
Ref: Ray TK, Hutin YJ, Murhekar MV. Cutaneous anthrax, West Bengal, India, 2007. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2009 Mar, Available from <http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/15/3/497.htm>.
On 8 Jun 2007, a healthcare facility reported 12 cases of cutaneous anthrax in the Muslim village of Sarkarpara (population 361). On 4 Aug 2007, another facility 50 km away reported 8 cases from the Muslim village of Charbinpara (population 835). These 2 outbreaks, both in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, were associated with the slaughtering of 4 cows. We investigated each outbreak to confirm diagnosis, estimate magnitude (incidence and severity), and identify risk factors. We conducted house-to-house searches to identify case-patients and collected smears from skin lesions.
From Sarkarpara, we identified 45 cases of cutaneous anthrax and 2 deaths (attack rate 12 percent, case-fatality rate 4 percent); from Charbinpara, we identified 44 cases and no deaths (attack rate 5 percent). In Sarkarpara, villagers had slaughtered a cow on 2 Jun 2007. The outbreak started on 3 Jun 2007, peaked on 6 Jun 2007 (one cluster), and ended on 10 Jun 2007. In Charbinpara, villagers had slaughtered 3 cattle, one each day of 16 Jul, 23 Jul, and 1 Aug 2007.
The 1st case occurred on 17 Jul 2007 and was followed by 3 peaks (3 clusters). In each village, attack rates were highest among persons 15-44 years of age. Microscopic examination at the district public health laboratory showed gram-positive, spore-bearing bacilli that were characteristic ofBacillus anthracison 7 of 20 smears (5/10 from Sarkarpara and 2/10 from Charbinpara).
To test the hypothesis that exposure to meat of a slaughtered cow was associated with illness, we conducted a retrospective cohort study among families who had handled or eaten beef from cows slaughtered during the week before the outbreak. Through interviews, we collected information about possible exposures, including slaughtering, handling meat or skin, and eating beef.
In Sarkarpara, we enrolled 296 persons from 59 families in the cohort study. Persons who had slaughtered cows and handled meat and skins had a significantly higher risk for illness than those who had not.
In Sarkarpara, risk associated with slaughtering cattle was 9.1 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] 6.0-13.7) and with handling meat 2.6 (95 percent CI 1.5-4.4). Slaughtering cows or handling meat accounted for the largest proportion of cases; 8 percent and 33 percent of the population was engaged in these practices, respectively (population-attributable fraction [PAF] 39 percent [95 percent CI 37.0-41.2] and 34 percent [95 percent CI 18.5-42.9], respectively). PAF associated with handling skins was 2 percent (95 percent CI 1.8-2.0).
In Charbinpara, we included 687 persons from 118 families in the cohort study. Slaughtering cattle and distributing beef were strongly associated with illness. Slaughtering cows and handling meat were common practices and accounted for the largest proportion of cases (PAF 47 percent [95 percent CI 46.0-48.0] and 19 percent [95 percent CI 17.5-19.4], respectively). In Charbinpara, risk associated with slaughtering was 19.0 (95 percent CI 11.0-30.0) and with distributing was 11.0 (95 percent CI 6.8-19.0). Of the persons who ate beef, anthrax developed in 17 percent in Sarkarpara and 7 percent in Charbinpara. However, when we restricted the analysis to those who did not handle meat or skin, eating beef was not associated with illness. No person whose sole exposure was eating beef became ill. Persons who slaughtered cattle were not in the butchering profession; they did not wear gloves or other protective equipment. Their helpers distributed the beef in the village without any protection. Persons involved in skin trading carried the skins to nearby villages to sell. Women in the villages boiled the beef for 30 minutes before serving.
In Sarkarpara, healthcare workers knew the symptoms suggestive of anthrax and that this disease needed to be reported. As a result, this outbreak was reported early. In Charbinpara, healthcare workers knew nothing about the disease and did not report it. As a result, reporting was delayed until the 3rd cluster. Late reporting prevented effective public health action. Because the source of infection in the 2 villages differed (different cattle), we were unable to formally establish a causal link between these 4 clusters.
The authors proposed the following recommendations: 1st, healthcare workers in anthrax-endemic areas need to be educated about promptly recognizing and reporting the disease; 2nd, persons in the community must be educated about using personal protective equipment during slaughtering of animals and handling of meat and skins.
Community education should focus on those at risk, including Muslim communities who eat beef. Because anthrax occurs in only a few districts, India does not have a nationally organized control program. However, a focal prevention plan based on these recommendations would ultimately help reduce illness and death in anthrax-endemic districts.

Indonesia -Anthrax alert halts Sumbawa cattle trading in 2 districts
13 Jan 2009
The Jakarta Post, via AnimalNet [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, Sumbawa regency administration in West Nusa Tenggara (NB) has stopped the movement of all cattle in and out of 2 districts, Labangka and Moyohulu, after some livestock showed possible signs of anthrax contamination. It is reported that the cases of anthrax in cows were documented in those districts in 2008. It is unclear whether the current suspected cases may be confirmed. Sumbawa is one of Indonesia's primary cattle production areas, delivering at least 900 cows and 3000 calves to other regions in the country, including Jakarta, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and West Sumatra. According to 2007 provincial data, there were 102,000 cows and 64,000 buffalo in NB.
²ytoplasma asteris-related strain associated with a yellows disease of black pepper (Piper nigrum) in India. BSPP New Disease Reports 2009; 18]
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) yellows is a newly recognized disease in Coorg (Kodagu) district of Karnataka State in southern India, where pepper is grown in 10 690 ha [26 416 acres] with a production of 2360 metric tonnes. Symptoms include yellowing and curling of the leaves. In the advanced stage, vines become yellow and slender with generalized decline and reduction in the yield noted. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular evidence for the association of a phytoplasma with a yellows disease of black pepper, and the identification of aCa.Phytoplasma asteris-related strain associated with such disease in India.



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