Anthrax downs 50 Isabela villagers

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – At least 50 people from a remote Isabela village have been hospitalized for the last four weeks after partaking of anthrax-contaminated carabao meat.

According to reports, the victims, all residents of Dicamay 2 in Jones, Isabela, exhibited signs of anthrax infection after consuming meat of carabaos believed to have been downed by the dreaded animal disease. Besides the number of villagers affected, reports also indicated that at least six carabaos have already died due to anthrax since Oct. 16, prompting the Isabela veterinary office to declare an outbreak of anthrax in the entire village. “Actually we can already declare an anthrax outbreak even if only one carabao had died of the disease. Much more that there were already six carabaos that have died of the said illness in the village,” said provincial veterinary officer Dr. Angelo Naui.

Scientifically called Bacillus anthracis, anthrax, Naui stressed, is a very “dangerous” disease if it is not treated properly. According to Wikipedia, anthrax commonly infects wild and domesticated herbivorous mammals which ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Humans as well as carnivorous animals such as dogs and wolves living in the same environment with infected cattle may acquire the disease by consuming their contaminated meat.

“We had already ordered the inoculation of all carabaos and other herbivorous animals in the town and other nearby areas to prevent the further spread of the disease,” he said.

Anthrax, an acute disease spread by spores from the Bacillus anthracis, affects both humans and animals and in most forms is lethal.

Among the signs of anthrax infection in humans include headache, fever, abdominal pains, dry cough and itchy skin lesions, said Dr. Sheryl Cabigon of Jones municipal health office.

Anthrax is able to survive in harsh conditions for extremely long periods of time and can be found on all continents. When its spores are inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with a skin lesion on a host they may reactivate and multiply rapidly.