Seven cases of Anthrax detected in Orissa

At least seven cases of anthrax virus were detected in two villages under Kutra Gram Panchayat in Kutra block of Sundargarh district, official sources said today.

Four persons, including a 4-year-old girl, have acquired symptoms of anthrax disease from Kusumdih village while three cases were detected from nearby Kiringasira yesterday.

All affected persons were admitted to community health centre at Kutra and their condition was stated to be improving.

The affected persons were identified as Indra Nayak, 22, Suren Nayak, 22, Tanis Soren, 40, all from Kiringsira village and four others Bimall Ekka, 20, Birendra Minz, 26, Saiman Ekka, 65, and Muni Nayak, 4, from Kusumdih village, the sources said.

A medical team with sufficient medicines and health workers today rushed to the two affected villages and door to door health check-ups have started. The villagers with suspected cases of anthrax were also given preventive medicines.

All precautionary measures are being taken to prevent the spread of the disease, Dinabandhu Panda, in-charge of Kutra CHC, who is camping in affected villages said.

People who consume meat of dead herbivorous animals like cow, goats, pigs and even touch their hides can get affected by Bacillus Anthracis bacteria. The poor tribals of two villages have eaten and handled a dead cow and a dead sheep a week ago, Panda said.