Wüstenschiff

Brite erliegt Milzbrand-Infektion
03.11.2008 - PR-inside

London (AP) In Großbritannien hat sich ein Trommelbauer während der Arbeit mit Milzbrand infiziert und ist der Krankheit erlegen. Das Universitätskrankenhaus Homerton erklärte am Montag, der 35-jährige Londoner habe sich über infizierte Tierhäute angesteckt, die offenbar aus Afrika importiert worden seien. Er sei vor einem Monat ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert worden und am Sonntag gestorben. Milzbrand wird von Bakterien verursacht und kann nicht von Mensch zu Mensch übertragen werden. Die Infektion über Tierhäute und Fleisch ist in Industriestaaten selten, kommt aber in armen Ländern regelmäßig vor ... mehr

Gruß
Birgitt

Weitere Informationen zu Milzbrand HIER

ANTHRAX, HUMAN - UK (05): DRUM WORKSHOP
***************************************
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Fri 14 Nov 2008
Source: UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) [edited]
<http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwe ... 4186170287>


Investigations following a death from anthrax
---------------------------------------------
Following the announcement of the death of a patient from inhalation
anthrax the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have been carrying out
testing at the patient's workshop in Hackney, where animal skin drums
were made. Testing was carried out to see whether there were traces
of anthrax at the property and if any specialist cleaning was needed
before it could be used again. Samples were taken from the property
on Tuesday [4 Nov 2008] and tested at the Agency's specialist
laboratories in Porton Down.

Results from these samples confirmed that anthrax was found on one of
5 drums in the property and also on some animal skins. No traces of
anthrax were found in the other samples, which were taken from a wide
variety of places within the property.

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of the Agency in the London Region said,
"These results mean that we will not need to carry out wide scale
specialist cleaning at the property. We have already taken the animal
skins away and will be removing the drum early next week [week of 17
Nov 2008]. We will then carry out some final checks and if all is
well we will be able to hand the keys back to the owner. We have
informed all residents of the local area about these results and have
thanked them for their patience during this investigation"

Notes to editors
----------------
1. For further information please contact the London press office on
0207 759 2824.
2. Anthrax is a disease caused by spores that live in the
environment. It can cause a skin infection (cutaneous anthrax) or as
in this case, inhalation anthrax, when the spores are inhaled into
the lungs. Inhalation anthrax is very rare and is not passed from
person to person. All individuals who may have been exposed to
anthrax spores during the making of these drums have already been
given antibiotics to prevent them from becoming ill.
3. Despite the popularity of African drumming in the UK and elsewhere
over recent years, cases of anthrax associated with these activities
are very rare.
4. A single case of cutaneous (skin) anthrax associated with a goat
hide bongo drum purchased in Haiti occurred in 1974: this is the only
such case ever reported. Since then rare cases of cutaneous anthrax
have occurred as a result of making drums from untanned animal hides.
5. A case of inhalation anthrax occurred in 2006 in America in a man
who made drums from dried (but otherwise untreated) animal hides
brought in from West Africa. A recent case occurred in Scotland in
2006 in a man who made and played drums from imported animal hides.
6. Anthrax infections associated with the handling of untanned animal
hides are now extremely rare in the UK. Imported animal hides from
countries where anthrax is endemic in animals (for example, in Africa
and Asia) pose a higher risk for exposure than domestic (UK origin) hides.
7. Strict regulations are in place for the importation of animal
hides. These can be accessed at
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trd ... e/bp5b.htm>
8. For further information about animal hide drums and anthrax please to go
<http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwe ... 1942145753>
or
<http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2008 ... tm#anthrax>.

--
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[Two questions remain
1. Did the affected drum maker ever transfer any spores on his
working clothes when he returned to his flat/apartment at the end of
the day? This is not unknown.
2. Considering the numbers of contaminated West African goat skins
that must have made their way to the UK (and the US) what triggered
this inhalation case, and the ones in Scotland and New York, and not
others? It would be difficult to believe that just 3 hides initiated
these 3 cases, a 100 percent attack rate. Put another way, if that is
held to be the case West Africa must be swamped with inhalation
anthrax but we get few reports of human anthrax from there, and those
are routine cutaneous or gastro-enteric cases. What increased the
risk for these fellows? Smoking? Chronic lung problems? HIV? Upper
respiratory infection as in a 'cold'? Unfit, so heavy breathing on
any effort? Diabetic? Poor workshop ventilation?

"Strict regulations" remind me of Canute and his broom. - Mod.MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, LIVESTOCK - ZIMBABWE
************************************
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: 13 Jan 2009
Source: SW Radio Africa/Physicians for Human Rights [edited]
<http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/phys ... 130109.htm>


Current health crisis: anthrax
------------------------------
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported some 200 human cases of
anthrax since November 2008 with 8 confirmed deaths. These cases were
attributed to the ingestion of animals (cattle and goats) that had died of
anthrax. Zimbabweans avoid eating animals that have died of disease, but
these cases appear to [have] occurred in starving rural people scavenging
carrion.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) was told that veterinary anthrax control
programs in Zimbabwe, which had included regular monthly control programs,
have been dramatically curtailed in the economic collapse. The surviving
herds are now much more vulnerable to infectious diseases.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Seen against the larger canvas the anthrax problem is trivial unless one
accepts that with the breakdown of human and veterinary health services the
available data is but a fraction of reality; in the late 1970s there were
some 10 000 human cases of anthrax in the country due to wet weather and a
breakdown in the delivery of veterinary services thanks to the civil
insurgency.

The above came from the PHR Executive Summary of the report. Other links:
<http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/lib ... 01-13.html>
<

A search of the PHR full report (see pages 31-32)
<http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/lib ... m-full.pdf>
revealed the the following comment in WHO source document below from which
the PHR segment was based:

"According to WHO figures, there have been 200 human cases of anthrax
reported since November 2008, with 8 deaths. Consumption of contaminated
meat is a possible cause." ex WHO Zimbabwe Health Cluster Bulletin No 2 -
12 December 2008
<http://www.who.int/hac/crises/zmb/sitre ... ec2008/en/>.

PHR also comments: "PHR was also told that veterinary anthrax control
programs in Zimbabwe, which had included regular monthly dipping programs
for cattle, have been dramatically curtailed in the economic collapse. The
results in the veterinary sector are that dipping and vaccination of
livestock have largely ceased and the surviving herds are much more
vulnerable to infectious diseases." There is little that one can add.

The OIE Timelines information only covers 2005 & 2007:
<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?pag ... _timelines> - Mod.MHJ]

Fünf Menschen durch Anthrax in Uganda getötet

Kampala (dts) - Im westen Ugandas sind offenbar fünf Menschen an der Infektionskrankheit Milzbrand gestorben. Das berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Xinhua.mehr

Quelle:dernewsticker

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, WILDLIFE - UGANDA: (BUSHENYI) SUSPECTED
*******************************************************
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Date: Wed 18 Feb 2009
Source: The New Vision (Uganda) [edited]
<http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/671894>


Anthrax kills 5 in Bushenyi
---------------------------
The health ministry has said 5 people have died after eating meat
believed to be infected with anthrax in Katunguru sub-county in
Bushenyi district. "A total of 159 people are being monitored by our
surveillance team for possible symptoms of anthrax after being
exposed to the risk," Paul Kaggwa, the health ministry spokesperson,
told The New Vision yesterday [17 Feb 2009].

The 1st 2 deaths occurred on Saturday [14 Feb 2009] at Kisenyi
landing site and 3 more deaths were registered between Saturday and
Tuesday [17 Feb 2009]. They are believed to have eaten a carcass of
an antelope. Two other people were sent to Lugazi health centre for
medical check up after complaining of abdominal pains. Kaggwa urged
people to desist from eating wild animals.

"The infected animal strayed out of Queen Elizabeth National Park
(QENP) around 27 Jan 2009 and the residents slaughtered it," said
Kaggwa. "They developed abdominal pains, the 1st symptom and it was
reported on 6 Feb 2009."

The health ministry has advised people in the affected area to report
to health centres if they develop symptoms associated with anthrax.

A joint team from the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA), the health
and agriculture ministries and the School of Public Health, Makerere
University, has been dispatched to Bushenyi to study the situation.
Moses Mapesa, the executive director of UWA, said he would wait for a
report from his technical team and health officials before confirming
the outbreak. "We have dealt with disease outbreaks before. We need
to get the confirmatory tests first," Mapesa said. Mapesa warned the
public against eating game meat.

Between August and October 2004, an outbreak of anthrax in Queen
Elizabeth National Park left 200 hippos dead. People who ate the
carcasses also died. The affected areas were Kisenyi and Kasenyi
landing sites and Kazinga Channel. This forced the UWA to suspend
tourism activities in the area.

[Byline: Anthony Bugembe]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Unfortunately in the past Uganda has not been the fastest or the
most reliable on their diagnoses of this disease. The disease is
certainly enzootic in the QENP and is a recognised local risk. As the
health ministry spokesperson said, we must await confirmation. In the
meantime I have requested background information from the veterinary
and wildlife experts in country.

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, WILDLIFE - UGANDA (02): (BUSHENYI) UNRESOLVED
*************************************************************
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<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 19 Feb 2009
Source: AllAfrica, The New Vision (Uganda) report [edited]
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200902200127.html>


Uganda: anthrax death toll up
-----------------------------
The number of people dead from anthrax in Bushenyi district has risen
from 5 to 6, after another person died yesterday [18 Feb 2009]. The
Ministry of Health spokesperson, Paul Kaggwa, said a team of health
officials from Mbarara and Kampala was in Bushenyi to carry out
public sensitisation and education.

In a separate incident, villagers of Katunguru sub-county also
discovered 2 hippos, which had died under mysterious circumstances.
The Katunguru sub-county LC3 chairperson, Swalley Kabuye, told The
New Vision that the hippos were discovered on Wednesday morning [18
Feb 2009] on Kazinga Channel, which connects lakes Edward and George.
Kabuye said they informed the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) after
discovering the 2 carcasses. "We asked UWA authorities to take away
the carcasses and check whether the hippos also died of anthrax." The
Queen Elizabeth National Park chief warden, Tom Okello Obong, could
not confirm, adding that he had only arrived the previous day.
"Sometimes the hippos fight and die as a result but we are trying to
find out whether it is a disease and we are trying to search whether
there are more carcasses in the park."

So far, 6 people in the sub-county have died out of the 9 admitted at
Rugazi Health Centre, Kaggwa said yesterday [18 Feb 2009]. The
district director of health services, Dr Celestine Barigye, said 2
people who had been admitted at the health centre, escaped from their
sickbeds for fear of being arrested by UWA officials for eating game
meat. Barigye said their whereabouts are still unknown. Kaggwa said:
"If it's true that they escaped, then they would die on their own."

Kabuye said following reports of an anthrax outbreak, they mounted an
operation with UWA authorities and discovered the remains of an
unidentified wild animal. "We have alerted people not to eat any wild
animal found dead or alive," Kabuye said. He said the district health
department recently distributed drugs to over 100 people who had
eaten the meat.

Efforts to contact the UWA executive director, Moses Mapesa, and the
director of conservation, Sam Mwandah, were futile as the 2 were
reported out of office and could not answer their mobile phones.

However, Dr Nicholas Kauta, the commissioner for livestock health and
entomology in the Ministry of Agriculture, said he toured the area on
[2 Jan 2009] and at Katunguru, he saw a waterbuck bleeding from the
mouth. On inquiry, he was told that the waterbuck had been attacked
by a lion. Kauta said Katunguru is largely a fishing community and
had a small number of goats. He said a committee comprising of
veterinary and medical personnel had been formed to establish the
risk of the disease outbreak and its threat to livestock in the area.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[We seem to be getting a clutter of reports out of Uganda and we have
yet to see a laboratory confirmation that any -- humans or wildlife
-- had been afflicted with anthrax. Whether any or all are anthrax is
still unclear. And as my good friend Sean Shamody commented to me:
"According to the 1st report, the animal was slaughtered on/around 27
Jan 2009, with 1st onset of the human cases noted on 6 Feb 2009, with
5 deaths reported between 14 Feb and 17 Feb 2009. This is beyond what
is normally recognized to be the incubation period for
gastrointestinal anthrax (1 to 6 days) and the reported duration of
fatal illness. Also, there are no reported cases of cutaneous
infection."

In my experience of the African literature the initial lethal cases
of gastrointestinal anthrax occur very soon after ingesting the meal,
sometimes within 24-36 hours. These incubation periods are
significantly longer, though still fatal, and not one reported
instance of a cutaneous lesion. Odd.

A similar report is available at
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009- ... 858136.htm>.
- Mod.MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, BOVINE - KENYA (02): (COAST) SUSPECTED
******************************************************
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Date: Tue 3 Mar 2009
Source: The Standard (Nairobi) [edited]
<http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144007950>


Man, 60, starves to death as hunger bites
-----------------------------------------
An elderly man has died of hunger complications in Taita [Coast
province] as the district continues to grapple with persistent food
shortages.

And a schoolboy died and 3 family members were admitted to hospital
after eating meat from a cow suspected to have died of anthrax.

The death of the Standard Two pupil at Njoro Primary School, has led
to panic among residents. Bomani Chief Katsungi Mngwana appealed to
residents of Njoro village who may have eaten the meat to go to
hospital for treatment. He said: "Family members were earlier advised
by veterinary officials to bury the carcass, but defied the orders
and instead ate and sold the meat to the unsuspecting residents."

Mr Mngwana said one of the victims had been taken to Tanzania for
treatment. Taveta medical officer of Health Henry Ng'eno said 3 other
people who ate the meat are in hospital.

Last week [week of 23 Feb 2009], famine-stricken residents in
Miasenyi and Buguta scrambled for free game meat from 3 rogue
buffalos shot dead by Kenya Wildlife Service personnel and 3
elephants killed by a speeding vehicle on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

The 60-year-old man from Gimba village, Voi, was said to have died
shortly after he was taken to Moi Hospital. Voi DO [district officer]
George Kamweru said he was very weak and sickly. "I was told by family
members that the deceased had not had enough food for a long time and
was frail looking when he was brought to the hospital. He died later
as doctors tried to save his life," said Mr Kamweru.

The DO said the Government would distribute food to famine-stricken
areas. He said some residents had turned to wild roots to survive.
Kamweru said the worst hit areas were Gimba, Ikanga, and Kajire.

It has also emerged that more than 2000 bags of maize in the district
were still lying in a Mombasa depot, 3 months after transporters
allegedly declined to ferry the consignment due to low pay. Residents
and local leaders appealed to the Government to facilitate the
transportation of maize to avert further suffering. National Cereals
and Produce Board Voi depot is empty in a district where more than
160 000 people are in dire need for relief food. Acting DC [District
Commissioner] Raphael Lemaletian said transporters from Mombasa had
complained that they were running at a loss because of low payment.

[Byline: Renson Mnyamwezi]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Anthrax in Kenya has been under-reported for years. For what it is
worth, OIE has the following numbers of livestock outbreaks: 2001, 4
cattle; 2002, 6 cattle; 2003, 2 cattle; 2004, 6 cattle; 2005, 19
cattle; 2006, 41 cattle, 2 sheep and goats, 2 involving pigs; 2007,
28 cattle, 4 sheep and goats, 6 pigs; 2008 (6 months) 6, all cattle.
Outbreaks have been reported in the following provinces: Central,
Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, and the Rift Valley. There were 15 human
cases in 2001, 106 with 2 deaths in 2005-6, and 10 in 2007. It is
hard to say if the increases in numbers are real or just the result of
enthusiasm in reporting. The passivity of the veterinary officers in
this instance may be telling.

With the increasing human famine problems in Kenya we can expect to
see more instances of human anthrax following the butchering and
consumption of sick and dead livestock It should be pointed out that
this is a rural African problem of many years and not limited to
Kenya.

As livestock are grazed inside national parks -- it is illegal but
done -- we can expect to see not just livestock cases because of
proximity to affected game, but also human cases from harvesting dead
game carcasses. In the past few years, wildlife anthrax cases have
been reported in Tsavo West, Nakuru, southern Samburu, and in the
Nairobi National Park. Tsavo National Park West essentially
encompasses the area involved in this recent report.

In the absence of medical and veterinary laboratory confirmation,
these cases must remain suspect of being anthrax. If any of our
Kenyan members can provide any ancillary information it would be much
appreciated.

How a speeding vehicle can kill 3 elephants is a puzzle unless it was
a long distance truck well laden.

Maps
Kenya:
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?g=179641&v=-0.5,38.5,6>
Provinces of Kenya:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/k ... l_1988.pdf>
Taita:
<http://encarta.msn.com/map_701546609/Taita_Hills.html>
Taveta, due east of Taita on the Kenya-Tanzania border:
<http://www.fallingrain.com/world/KE/2/Taveta.html>
Voi, to the west of Taita and on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway:
<http://www.fallingrain.com/world/KE/2/Voi.html>. - Mod MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, BOVINE - INDIA (03): (ORISSA)
*********************************************
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sun 14 Jun 2009
Source: VideosFromIndia.SmasHits.com, Asian News International (ANI)
report [edited]
<http://videosfromindia.smashits.com/vie ... -in-orissa>


Anthrax affects 15 families in Koraput district in Orissa
---------------------------------------------------------
At least 15 families fell ill due to anthrax in the tribal dominated
Koraput district of Orissa. Locals said that they fell ill after
consuming contaminated meat of the cattle. Anthrax, a highly
infectious animal disease, spreads every year in Koraput district at
the beginning of the raining season.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[This is just a 1.5 minute news video clip. It seems that these
anthrax outbreaks are a regular occurrence in the area and partly due
to poor compliance by the locals who are unenthusiastic about getting
their livestock vaccinated. The video clip shows the latter in
extremely poor and malnourished condition. If the animals are
vaccinated when in this condition there would be a minimal protective
response. The cattle need to be proactively vaccinated at the end of
the wet season and before the dry season sets in when they are in
good condition and able to produce antibodies.

The clip shows a number of men with cutaneous lesions on the backs of
their fingers, presumably from exposure when butchering sick cattle.

To find the Koraput district in Orissa, go to
<http://www.maplandia.com/india/orissa/koraput/> and
the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00tS>. - Mod.MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, BOVINE - INDIA (04): ORISSA
*******************************************
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[1]
Date: 16 Jun 2009
Source: Times of India [edited]
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bhub ... 663836.cms>


For the 1st time, anthrax has struck the Bondas, a primitive tribal
group with a population of 10 000. Doctors said as many as 10 are down
with the disease at Andrahal village in Malkangiri district's
Khairaput block. There are no reports of deaths yet. "Consumption of
beef of an anthrax-afflicted cow has led to the outbreak. Our medical
teams are regularly visiting the village for the past one week and
treating them. But the problem is that they like to depend on their
own primitive methods of treatment. So it takes a lot of persuasion
and coaxing before they can be taken to hospital," said a Khairput
hospital doctor. A health official said Bondas are strangers to the
disease and the symptoms. "They have no idea what kind of precautions
need to be taken either," he added.

Another official said Andhrahal shares a boundary with Koraput's
Lamtaput block, which is an anthrax-hit area. "Maybe inflow of
anthrax-afflicted cattle from Lamtaput to Andhrahal has spread the
disease," he added.

Healthcare is virtually non-existent in the village. All it has is an
Auxiliary Nursing Midwife centre. There is also a primary health
centre and an ayurvedic dispensary at Mudulipada, about 13 km from
Andrahal. "Since there is no doctor at Mudulipada, the centre is run
by a pharmacist," a source said. "An awareness drive should be
launched to save the primitive tribe from the disease," the source said.

Medical officials, however, claimed that medical teams are visiting
Bonda villages and distributing medicines. Bondas, one of the
primitive tribes in Orissa, live in the Bonda hills, which cover about
130 sq km in Mudulipada and Andrahal panchayats in Malkangiri. A
micro-project called Bonda Development Agency (BDA) has been in force
since 1977 for the tribe, the literacy rate of which is 7.8 per cent.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland

******
[2]
Date: 20 Jun 2009
Source: Times of India [edited]
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bhub ... 683482.cms>


The state government has prepared an action plan to wipe out anthrax
that has struck the Bondas, a vanishing tribe. The disease has been
detected for the 1st time among the primitive tribe, whose population
is just over 6000. Doctors said 8 persons, including 2 women and a
10-year-old child, have been affected at Andrahal village in
Malkangiri's Khairaput block. There are no reports of deaths yet.

"Anthrax was never reported in Malkangiri. Consumption of beef of an
anthrax-afflicted cow has led to the outbreak. For the past few days,
our teams are visiting the village and treating the affected persons,"
additional district medical officer (ADMO) Malkangiri Ch Prabhakar
said. "We have prepared an action plan to contain the disease," he said.

After a news item "Anthrax afflicts Bondas in Malkangiri" was
published in TOI on Wed 17 Jun 2009, a team of doctors visited the
anthrax-hit Andrahal village and examined the infected on Thursday
before preparing the action plan.

The plan entails regular vaccination of cattle and launch of an
awareness programme in the Bonda villages, among others. "We have
launched an awareness drive about the disease among Bondas. The
tribals have been asked not to consume beef of dead cattle. Awareness
programmes about anthrax will be conducted at regular intervals.
Voluntary organizations may also be engaged to create awareness among
the Bondas against the disease. The veterinary department has been
asked to vaccinate cattle in the area. As the anthrax spores can
remain alive for around 60 years in the soil, the tribals have been
advised to bury cattle in deep ditches or burn them," the ADMO said.

"Andrahal shares a boundary with Koraput's Lamtaput block, which is an
anthrax hit area. Inflow of anthrax-afflicted cattle from Lamtaput to
Andhrahal has led to spread of the disease," he said.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[An account of the Bondas can be found in Oreissadiary.com at
<http://www.orissadiary.com/orissa_profi ... Bondas.asp>:

The Bondas, who have lived in near isolation among the higher hills,
are a fiercely independent tribe. The Bondas, known as Remo(men), are
a small tribe of the type now often called Austro-Asiatic. They live
in the wild and mountainous region northwest of the Machakunda river,
and they have preserved themselves comparatively unaffected by the
march of civilization. They speak a different Austro-Asiatic language.

The inaccessibility of their abode separates them from other tribes of
the district The origin and affiliations of the Bondas are obscure,
but one may accept the possibility that they are members of a group of
Austro-Asiatic tribes which at some remote date took shelter in the
wild Jeypore hills. There is every reason to suppose that the Bondas
have changed very little during their long history.

Bondas are the oldest tribal people of the Malkangiri District. They
live in the mountains at a height of 3000 feet. In 1971, a census
their numbers was 5245, and in the 1981 census, they were 5895 in
number, but in the 1991 census, they had decreased to a number of
5129, in which males accounted for 2414 and females 2715.

They still practice the barter system, exchanging the produce of their
fields for articles of daily use. An interesting feature of the Bonda
marriage is that Bonda girls prefer to marry younger boys, so they may
have someone to earn for them in their old age.

See also:
<http://www.hindustantimes.com/election0 ... TopStories>.

To find Orissa, go to:
<http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/21/>.
Koraput: <http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/21/Koraput.html >
Khairaput: <http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/21/Khairaput.html>

As can be seen from our previous postings on anthrax in Orissa,
overflow of this disease into adjoining tribal areas is a
long-standing problem in this state. Unfortunately, the Orissa state
control programme, such as it is, is reactive. A structured proactive
programme such as they are proposing would be more cost effective,
both in the tribal areas as well as elsewhere. We wish them good luck!
- Mod.MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN - KAZAKHSTAN (WEST KAZAKHSTAN)
***********************************************
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Date: 24 Jun 2009
Source: The Journal of Turkish Weekly [edited]
<http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/82062 ... hstan.html>
and
<http://en.rian.ru/world/20090624/155334668.html>


A 59-year-old woman in Western Kazakhstan has been diagnosed with
anthrax, the country's Emergencies Ministry said on Wednesday [24 Jun 2009].

Eight people have been hospitalized on suspicion of carrying the
disease in recent days, adding to 6 others hospitalized earlier this
month [June 2009].

A report from the ministry said that 185 people who had come into
contact with the infected patients are currently being monitored.

Anthrax affects both wild mammals and domestic cattle that ingest or
inhale the bacterial spores while grazing. Humans can contract the
disease if they are exposed to the blood or tissue of infected
animals. It can be highly lethal, but in some forms responds well to
antibiotic treatment.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett

[The last official report of anthrax in Kazakhstan was for a single
outbreak in July 2008 in East Kazakhstan:
<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?pag ... ortid=7282>.
ProMED records are richer with Kazakh information.

This seems to be part of the Kazakh here-and-there pattern of
outbreaks. The comment "...adding to 6 others hospitalized earlier
this month" would indicate that this has been an ongoing problem
wherever it is in "Western" Kazakhstan and is not being resolved quickly.

For maps of Kazakhstan, go to:
<http://www.fallingrain.com/world/KZ/> and
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/commonwe ... _rel01.pdf>. - Mod.MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, LIVESTOCK - GHANA: (UPPER EAST)
***********************************************
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 25 Jun 2009
Source: The Ghanian Chronicle [edited]
<http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/thest ... ON%3C/b%3E>


Anthrax kills 2 in Upper East Region
------------------------------------
The refusal of some owners of livestock, at Tindongo in the
Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, to vaccinate their
animals against anthrax, has led to the death of 2 persons, 11
animals, and left 7 other persons sick.

Disclosing this to The Chronicle in Bolgatanga yesterday [24 Jun
2009], after his return from Tindongo, the regional veterinary
officer, Dr Thomas Anyorikeya, lamented that no deaths would have
been recorded in the area, if owners of the affected animals had
vaccinated them when his office carried out a vaccination exercise in
that area in March this year [2009]. He explained that anthrax was
caused by anthrax bacteria [_Bacillus anthracis_]. It was soil-borne,
and when animals grazed, especially during the dry season, or when
the grasses were too low, they picked up some of the spores from the
soil. The germs then multiply in the animal leading to its death. Dr
Anyorikeya continued that when people consume the meat of the dead
animals, they also contract the disease. The victims are then hit
with boils on various parts of the body. [From handling the
contaminated carcass and meat. Gastro-enteric cases follow from
consuming said meat. - Mod.MHJ]

According to him, between [4-20 Mar 2009], staff of his office
embarked on a vaccination exercise in the Tindongo and Shaiga areas,
which have records of the disease. However, some of the owners of
livestock did not vaccinate their animals -- mainly goats and sheep.

The officer said on [22 Jun 2009], the news about the death of the 2
persons reached community health volunteers in the area, who alerted
his office. He immediately deployed his staff to the affected
community, and all the remaining smoked meat were seized and buried,
while animal pens and the sites, where the dead animals were
prepared, were also disinfected.

Dr Anyorikeya said the incident took place in a large household,
where 9 people fell sick after consuming the dead animals, leading to
the death of the 2 persons, 10 goats, and one sheep.

He disclosed that his officers could vaccinate 1200 animals,
including goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, and cattle. He said if people
desisted from opening up dead animals, and presented their animals
for vaccination, the veterinary team would be able to control the disease.

At the time of filing this report, Dr Anyorikeya had returned from
the affected community, where a number of animals were vaccinated. He
insisted that people should present their animals for vaccination
against anthrax, since it was only Gp20 [approximately USD 13 cents]

The regional secretary of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Mr Joseph
Abarike, said the society would use its volunteers and women's groups
to carry out intensive education on the dangers associated with anthrax.

[Byline: William N-lanjerborr Jalulah]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett

[Ghana has one of the best veterinary services in Africa, much less
West Africa. Dr Anyorikeya has been struggling for some time to get
his farmers to present their livestock for vaccination. We wish him
well. Otherwise the incidence of this disease has been falling
significantly in Ghana for some years. Anthrax is most common in the
Northern Region, Upper East, and Eastern regions and is seen in parts
of the Volta and Central Regions.

Anthrax is a livestock problem in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Togo.
But in the former country it occurs in the northern and central
provinces away from the Ghanian NE borders. In Togo it is in Kara and
Savannes provinces, which do abut Ghana. Frankly this is a major
problem throughout Western Africa and Ghana is to be congratulated
for their ability to control it as well as they do and their ongoing
enthusiasm.

For Ghanian currency go to:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanaian_cedi>

For a map of Ghana, go to
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/ghana_rel96.jpg>. - Mod.MHJ]
[Tindongo can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map
of Ghana at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00ur>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, BOVINE - INDIA (05): (ORISSA)
*********************************************
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Date: Sat 27 Jun 2009
Source: The Hindu, Press Trust of India (PTI) report [edited]
<http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/09 ... 271451.htm>


12 people affected by anthrax in Orissa
---------------------------------------
At least 12 people were suffering from anthrax after they ate raw beef at
Pindapathar village in Sundargarh district of Orissa. Of the affected, the
condition of 4 was stated to be critical at Sundargarh district
headquarters hospital, official sources said. The villagers fell ill after
eating the [meat] of the a dead cow last week, sources said.

A team of government doctors from the hospital and paramedics have set up
camps in the villages of the area. Door to door medical check-ups were
being conducted and the tribals were being told not to eat raw meat of dead
domestic animals.

A similar report of anthrax outbreak was reported 3 months ago at Kiralaga,
Raipur, and Suidih villages in the same block in which 9 people contracted
the disease, Dr RN Barla, a government doctor in the team, said.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[Searching Google using the terms "anthrax" and "Orissa" yields multiple
reports from the Indian press, which reflects the picture we have been
getting of repeated outbreaks. For example, in 2008 Sundargarh was
similarly afflicted; see ProMED-mail archive no. 20080608.1826. It is clear
that this disease, especially in the tribal areas but presumably throughout
the state, is a significant livestock and public health problem and overdue
for a properly structured proactive control programme.

To find Orissa go to <http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/21/> and
<http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/orissa/orissa.htm>. For Sundargarh go to:
<http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/21/Sundargarh.html>,
<http://www.maplandia.com/india/orissa/sundargarh>, and
<http://healthmap.org/r/00uO>. - Mod.MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, BOVINE - INDIA (06): (ORISSA)
*********************************************
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Wed 1 Jul 2009
Source: Indianexpress.com [edited]
<http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/483674/>


3 more anthrax cases detected in Orissa
---------------------------------------
Official sources said 3 fresh anthrax cases were detected on Wednesday [1
Jul 2009] from Orissa's Sundargarh, barely a week after 12 people in the
district tested positive for the disease. All 3, aged 55, 30, and 50,
hailed from Dhudinua village of the district, nearly 80 km (50 mi) from
Rourkela. The patients were undergoing treatment at Balishankara primary
health centre, the sources said, adding that a medical team from the
district headquarters has rushed to the village.

A similar report of an anthrax outbreak was reported last week [27 Jun
2009] in Pindapathar village of the district, where 12 people were found
affected by the disease [see ProMED-mail archive no. 20090629.2352].

The tribal people living in remote villages of the district, particularly
in Subdega and Balishankara blocks, often eat meat of dead domestic
animals, they said, adding that an awareness campaign was launched among them.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[This year (2009) to date we have had outbreaks reported in the Orissa
districts of Rayagada (24 Mar), Kortaput (14 Jun), Malkangiri (16 Jun),
Sundargarh (27 Jun) and now in a 2nd village in Sundargarh. It is patently
a widespread problem in Orissa.

Rourkela is a large industrial city, surrounded by a range of hills and
encircled by rivers. It is the 2nd largest city in Orissa, with a
population of some 500 000. It is situated in an area with the richest
deposit of mineral wealth in Orissa. Rourkela came into prominence in 1955,
with the establishment of the 1st of the 3 public sector steel plants in
India. Its markets have the potential to attract contaminated meat.

To find Sundargarh, go to
<http://www.maplandia.com/india/orissa/sundargarh> and the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/00uO>. -
Mod.MHJ]

ANTHRAX, HUMAN, BOVINE - KYRGYZSTAN: (JALAL-ABAD) SUSPECTED
***********************************************************
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[1]
Date: 29 Jul 2009
Source: AKIpress, [transl. and edit. Corr. ATS]
<http://svodka.akipress.org/news:21001>


A suspected anthrax case has been admitted to the hospital in Aksi
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan has reported that
there is a possibility of an anthrax outbreak in Aksiskoe rayon of
Jalalabad oblast. The ministry report says that a cow belonging to [a
male] from the village of Semet fell sick and was slaughtered by
[him] on 18 Jul 2009. [He] found a boil on his finger on 19 Jul 2009,
which he treated with cigarette ash and vodka. He sought medical help
on 26 Jul 2009 and was hospitalized on 27 Jul 2009 with suspicion of anthrax.

The cow's slaughter place has been disinfected with chloramine.
Specimens of meat, soil and hide have been submitted for laboratory
analysis. [This] cow had been immunized for anthrax already. There
are no other suspected animal anthrax cases around and outbreak
containment measures are being taken.

Two doctors and 5 nurses from the regional sanepid station (sanitary
and epidemiological control station) are administering tetracycline
prophylaxis. Veterinarians are vaccinating the animals in the same
pasture where the index cow was. A total of 12 people in contact with
the patient are under the observation of health care professionals.

--
Communicated by: ProMED-RUS
<promed-rus@promedmail.org>

******
[2]
Date: 29 Jul 2009
Source: The Journal of Turkish Weekly.net [edited]
<http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/85467 ... labad.html>


At least 167 anthrax suspects kept under observatioon in Jalalabad
------------------------------------------------------------------
Anthrax has repeatedly burst out [in the past] in the Jalalabad
region of Kyrgyzstan. The disease cases were registered in Aksiy
district, the Emergency Ministry reported.

A resident of the village of Semet got the infection from a cow as
far back as on 19 Jul 2009 but consulted a doctor only on 27 Jul
2009. The resident's blood samples and the cow remains have been sent
for laboratory analysis, AgencyNews "24.kg" reported.

About 167 local anthrax suspects are reportedly being kept under
medical observation at this time.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[Anthrax is an endemic problem in Jalalabad in western Kyrgyzstan; it
overflows from adjoining Uzbekistan. Confirmation is being sought
from Bishkek on the cause of death for this cow. - Mod.MHJ

A map showing the location of Kyrgyzstan is available at:
<http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/kg.htm> - CopyEd.EJP]