Anthrax cases confirmed in Cagayan 

4 carabaos die; 22 people isolated

MANILA, Philippines — Four carabaos have died and several others have been infected by the anthrax virus while more than 100 people were exposed, 22 of them with symptoms and in isolation, in Sto. Niño town in Cagayan.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed the infections even as it gave assurance that the carabao deaths were an isolated case.

The exposed people are residents of Barangays Calassitan, who manifested skin lesions. Sixty other people were exposed to infected meat in Barangay Annafatan.

The Department of Health (DOH) said three persons were positive for the virus in polymerase chain reaction tests on Thursday.

In a telephone interview, DA deputy spokesperson Rex Extoperez said the regional field office in Cagayan Valley is stepping up surveillance in areas where carabaos were reportedly affected by anthrax.

He said vaccines have been administered to animals in the area.

The DA-Cagayan Valley office confirmed that two of the four infected water buffaloes in Barangay Calassitan in Sto. Niño town died due to the disease.

It was earlier reported that two of the four infected carabaos were slaughtered and sold, with the contaminated meat reaching Barangay Annafatan in Amulung town.

The DOH said anthrax is a bacteria commonly found in soil and affects ruminants such as water buffaloes, cows, sheep and goats. The symptoms include difficulty in breathing, fever, seizures, heart complications, bleeding, sudden death and postmortem lesions.

Humans can be infected if they have a skin lesion or by inhalation or consumption of contaminated food or drink.

The symptoms of anthrax infection in humans are headache, fever, abdominal pain, dry cough and itchy skin lesions.

The DA urged consumers to be more vigilant in buying meat especially during the holiday season. – Rhodina Villanueva