MUKDAHAN, Thailand – The Provincial Communicable Disease Committee, led by Governor Worayan Boonyarach, convened a meeting to review the ongoing anthrax situation in the area. The meeting revealed that no new cases had been reported, and the 636 individuals who had been in contact with infected animals are no longer under surveillance.
According to the report from the Mukdahan Provincial Public Health Office, there have been four confirmed cases of anthrax, with one fatality. Three individuals remain hospitalized, all of whom had prior contact with or had butchered infected cattle. Fortunately, there have been no new cases since the last report. The authorities confirmed that all 636 individuals who were in close contact with the infected animals have completed their monitoring period.
To control the spread of the disease, strict measures have been put in place, including disinfecting potentially contaminated areas, burying contaminated equipment, quarantining at-risk cattle, and vaccinating animals within a 5-kilometer radius. Movement of animals is also being closely regulated.
Initial investigations suggest that the anthrax spores were likely present in the soil and infected cattle, which subsequently transmitted the disease to humans through contact with contaminated meat. The authorities are currently conducting laboratory tests to confirm the source of the infection.
The health surveillance in the affected area, conducted by the provincial health department, ended on May 7. However, the livestock department and the Don Tan district are expected to continue their monitoring efforts until May 31.
