Anthrax has been confirmed as the reason for the death of the 22 spotted deer that were found dead in their enclosure at Kanan Pendari zoo in Bilaspur on Wednesday. Chhattisgarh Health Minister Amar Agrawal has directed district administration and heath officers to deal with the situation effectively.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Ram Prakash told The Pioneer, “Anthrax has been identified as the cause of death of the 22 spotted deer. The department is taking all possible precaution to prevent it from spreading to other animals in the zoo.”
Detailing about steps to be taken, the PCCF said that they were vaccinating other quadruped in the zoo and the remaining spotted deer have been shifted to other enclosures. Further, the surface soil of enclosure would be buried ten feet deep in ground.
“The enclosures are being sanitised by spraying five per cent formaldehyde solution and the zoo has been closed for 10 days,” the PCCF informed.
The PCCF further said the samples of deer have also been sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute Bareilly as part of procedural step.
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Dr Amar Singh Thakur informed teams of doctors have been constituted which would keep vigil on the health of people and animals living in the radius of 10 kilometre of the zoo following the death of 22 Spotted Deer.
The health department has issued a high alert in the district following the diagnosis of deadly disease. He informed that Health Minister Amar Agrawal has directed the Collector as well as Health Officials to carry out a massive health check-up camp in the district.
The CMO further detailed that district hospitals and CIMS have been alerted to act quickly if any patient showing any possible symptoms of Anthrax reaches to them.
“The health officers have been asked to investigate possible contact of man-animal if any person is found with complaining of respiratory, skin or gastrointestinal disorder,” CMO said and added that department is going to keep eye on death of animals in the possibly infected area.