Anthrax cases reported in Champasak province, Laos
Officials in Champasak province in southwestern Laos, near the borders with Thailand and Cambodia report three human anthrax cases in people who contracted the dangerous bacteria after consuming meat of livestock that had died suddenly.
All three patients have been hospitalized, said the agriculture and forestry office of the province’s Soukhouma district, where the cases were found.
Anthrax is a bacterial pathogen in livestock and wild animals. Ruminants such as bison, cattle, sheep and goats are highly susceptible, and horses can also be infected.
Anthrax is a very serious disease of livestock because it can potentially cause the rapid loss of a large number of animals in a very short time. Affected animals are often found dead with no illness detected.
When conditions become favorable, the spores germinate into colonies of bacteria. An example would be a grazing cow ingests spores that in the cow, germinate, grow spread and eventually kill the animal. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. This spore forming bacteria can survive in the environment for decades because of its ability to resist heat, cold, drying, etc. This is usually the infectious stage of anthrax.
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There are no reports of person-to-person transmission of anthrax. People get anthrax by handling contaminated animal or animal products, consuming undercooked meat of infected animals and more recently, intentional release of spores.
There are three types of human anthrax with differing degrees of seriousness: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation.
Facing the situation to control the transmission of anthrax, the Soukhouma agriculture and forestry office has banned the trading and transportation of animals in the district, slaughterhouses, as well as the consumption of animals dying of unclear causes. It also asked locals to monitor their animals and report to authorities to take response measures if there are any suspected symptoms.
If livestock die suddenly, even when there is no history of anthrax on the property, anthrax could potentially be the cause.
To prevent a large-scale anthrax incident, it is critically important that the carcasses of cattle and sheep that die suddenly without any other obvious cause are tested for anthrax before they are moved. This reduces the risk of human exposure and minimizes contamination of the affected property if anthrax is confirmed.