Department of Animal Health warns of a very high risk of spreading anthrax from cattle

The Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has just sent an official dispatch to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the specialized veterinary management agency in the provinces of Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Son La, Cao Bang and Lao Cai on strengthening measures against anthrax (anthracnose disease)˳

According to the report of the specialized veterinary management agencies of the provinces, from the beginning of 2023 to now, the whole country has 14 people with anthrax in Ha Giang (1 case) and Dien Bien (13 cases)˳

In cattle, 4 outbreaks of anthrax were detected in Ha Giang (1 outbreak) and Dien Bien (3 outbreaks)˳ This is a disease on the list of diseases subject to epidemic declaration, diseases transmitted between animals and humans, and animal diseases banned from slaughter and treatment˳

The Department of Animal Health said that the cause of anthrax is mainly because cattle have not been vaccinated against anthrax˳

When buffaloes and cows die, people do not report to the local authorities and veterinary agencies, voluntarily slaughter and eat meat, leading to the infection of people who directly slaughter and eat infected cattle˳

“The risk of the disease continuing to occur in Ha Giang and Dien Bien provinces and spreading to other provinces due to trading, transporting and using diseased livestock and meat in the near future is very high˳” Veterinary Department warned˳

In order to control and prevent anthrax from spreading on a large scale, the Department of Animal Health suggested that provinces focus on handling and destroying diseased livestock so as not to spread and spread the disease˳

Regularly and continuously implement measures of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization to destroy pathogens and set up stations and checkpoints to transport livestock and meat from epidemic areas to the outside to spread the disease˳

Urgently organize vaccination to surround the outbreak, vaccinate high-risk cattle, in places where people slaughter sick cattle, where people buy meat from suspected infected cattle for consumption˳

Propaganda to people about signs and dangerous nature of anthracnose disease, do not arbitrarily transport, slaughter livestock, sell, give, donate or eat infected or suspected cattle meat˳

In particular, instructing people and participants in the fight against the epidemic and handling the outbreak to have personal protective equipment, to apply biosecurity measures, to not be infected with anthrax because it is very likely pathogens, anthracnose spores have been dispersed in the environment, soil and water in places where there are sick animals, where people slaughter and use sick cattle meat˳

An outbreak of anthrax appeared after eating buffalo meat

Three outbreaks of anthrax (anthrax disease) were recorded in Dien Bien province related to slaughtering and eating buffalo and cow meat˳ The Ministry of Health suggested units to strengthen epidemic prevention and control˳