Bangkok: Authorities placed a public health update after authorities discovered hundreds of possible exposed to the dangerous bacteria after Thailand reported its first anthrax-related dying in decades with two attacks global.
A 53-year-old gentleman from Mukdahan state, northeastern Thailand, near the Laos border, passed away on Wednesday after contracting anthrax, according to the authorities. A second case was confirmed in the same state, and three more suspected cases are still pending.
At least 638 people have been identified as potentially exposed after consuming raw flesh, according to authorities. According to health officials, 36 of them had participated in killing animal while the remainder had consumed raw or undercooked meat. As part of confinement actions, all are receiving medications.
The health department stated that “everyone who may have come into contact with contaminated foods is being monitored.”
According to the crops department, the Livestock Department is in charge of containment efforts in the affected region, including a 5 km quarantine area close to the infection site.
Although no animals have shown signs of illness or unexpected death, the vaccination plan includes 1, 222 cow.
Anthrax is a rare but major illness brought on by a bacterium that is frequently spread through animal contact or poisoned meat consumption. It is not person-to-person multiply.
Thailand past reported animal anthrax cases in 2017, when two people were infected without dying. 15 circumstances were identified in 2000, all of which were unrelated to incidents.
Following a surge in local infections, Wednesday’s suicide was the first anthrax mortality in Thailand since 1994, when three people died. Vietnam confirmed 13 instances of anthrax in May 2023, while Laos reported 129 cases last season, including one fatality.
Thai officials said they would continue to heightened surveillance in border areas and are continuing to look into the cause of the disease.