Government confirms no recent cases of anthrax infection have been detected
Updated Version:
The anthrax situation in Mukdahan's northeastern province appears to be stabilizing, as no fresh cases have been reported since yesterday, according to the Public Health Ministry.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin confirmed that Mukdahan has seen three anthrax cases thus far. One person has succumbed to the disease, while two others remain hospitalized.
Overall, 636 individuals have come into contact with the disease. Of these, 538 have completed a seven-day quarantine period, while the rest are still in isolation. All the infected individuals have received the Doxycycline antibiotic medication, the minister disclosed, adding that he has instructed the provincial health office to maintain strict surveillance measures even beyond the incubation period of the disease, which will end tomorrow.
Easing public concerns about the disease's spread is essential, said the minister.
Anthrax is transmitted from infected animals to humans, but not from human to human. The bacterial spores can survive for years in soil and water, making detection in nature a possibility.
To combat the potential spread of the disease, the ministry is collaborating with relevant agencies. The public is advised to consume only cooked beef and heed disease alerts issued by authorities, the minister said.
Dr Narong Junkaew, head of Mukdahan's public health office, explained that authorities have traced the outbreak to two separate cow slaughters. The death and hospitalizations occurred following the first slaughter event. So far, no further cases have been linked to the second slaughter.
The ministry's efforts to contain the outbreak encompass prevention measures such as the seal-off of a 5-kilometer radius in the suspected area, vaccination of livestock, banning the consumption of raw meat, promoting proper hygiene practices, and even halting meat imports from Thailand in neighboring countries.
- The unfortunate individual who succumbed to anthrax in Mukdahan was infected from animals, as the disease is primarily transmitted from sick animals to humans rather than person-to-person.
- Despite the Doxycycline antibiotic medication administered to those infected with anthrax, it's crucial for the public to adhere to medical-conditions advice such as consuming only cooked beef and following disease alerts issued by authorities to minimize the risk of chronic-diseases like anthrax.
- As anthrax bacteria spores can survive for years in soil and water, the Public Health Ministry is working alongside relevant agencies to ensure continued surveillance in Mukdahan's province even after the incubation period ends, tomorrow, to mitigate any further chronic-disease outbreaks.
- The incidence of anthrax in Mukdahan's province has been linked to two separate cow slaughters, highlighting the importance of proper livestock handling, hygiene practices, and preventative measures such as vaccination to protect the community's health-and-wellness.
