BANGKOK (Agencies): Thailand has intensified its vigilance along the Thai-Laos border after receiving reports of anthrax outbreaks in local villages in Champasack Province, Laos.
In response to the emerging threat, the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has deployed a series of measures, including increased surveillance at animal checkpoints and readiness for vaccination campaigns. The Nation Thailand reported these developments as Thailand aims to contain the spread of anthrax and prevent its transmission across borders.
Thailand’s eastern Ubon Ratchathani province, said the Laos cases has raised concerns for potential cross-border transmission highlighting raw beef, buffalo, goat, and sheep meat as potential carriers of the bacterium.
Anthrax, a severe bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis, primarily affects animals but can also pose risks to human health. The bacteria are commonly found in soil and can be transmitted through contact with infected animals or their products.
Champasack Province has witnessed three confirmed cases of anthrax infection in a local village in Soukhoumma district. One individual, severely affected, has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the provincial hospital, as issued by the Agriculture and Forestry Office of Soukhoumma district on 4 March.
To prevent an outbreak, local authorities are urging all relevant sectors, including residents and small businesses, not to trade animals or their products outside the district. Moreover, cautionary measures advise against the consumption of meat from cows and buffaloes. Animal owners are encouraged to monitor their livestock closely and promptly report any suspicious symptoms to authorities.
To tackle the issue and curb animal-related diseases, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry of Champasack Province issued a notice on 7 March, directing local authorities to monitor and inspect all districts in the province for activities such as buying and selling livestock from affected and nearby areas.
Additionally, local authorities are urged to raise public awareness, enforce strict laws against violators, and disseminate notices to local communities to ensure adherence to preventive measures, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in containing the outbreak.
Kenika Ounjit, a deputy Thai government spokesperson, revealed on Monday a public health warning from the Department of Livestock Development. The warning urged the public to refrain from consuming raw meat. This follows the report of an anthrax outbreak in Laos, published on the World Forum Facebook page.
According to the report, three cases of anthrax were identified on March 4 in the Soukhoumma district of the Lao province of Champasak. This province shares a border with Thailand’s eastern Ubon Ratchathani province, raising concerns for potential cross-border transmission, said Kenika, highlighting raw beef, buffalo, goat, and sheep meat as potential carriers of the bacterium.
“The meat must be thoroughly cooked before consumption,” said Kenika.
Kenika outlined the signs of infection, which can manifest within two months, ranging from minor skin blisters, headaches, and diarrhoea to severe shortness of breath. A delayed diagnosis of an anthrax infection can be fatal.
She further revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives instructed the Department of Livestock Development to ramp up surveillance measures to prevent the disease from entering Thailand. She added that stringent animal quarantine measures and checks for smuggled livestock along the Thai-Lao border have been ordered.
Farmers have also been requested to report any sudden animal deaths. Kenika concluded by stating there is currently no such outbreak in Thailand, but vaccines have been prepared for cattle as a preventative measure. - Agencies
