As many as 673 people had been affected by anthrax and 53 of them died since the year 2000 in Koraput district.
Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak informed this in the Assembly in response to a question of Congress MlA Tara Prasad Bahinipati on Friday.
The disease spread by animals is transmitted to humans, and if treatment is done at initial stages, the patients get cured fully, the Minister said.
The Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs) of anthrax-affected districts have been provided guidelines for treatment and prevention of the disease. They have been asked to send doctors’ teams to the affected areas and provide treatment and medicines free of cost, the Minister said.