Following reports of five suspected Antrax patients identified in Simdega district of Jharkhand, a team of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) will visit the place on Monday to examine the patients so that further action could be taken in this regard.
Five people Moorish Bigul (50), Praful Bigul (35), Christopher Bigul (33), Vijay Bigul (26) and Bipin Bigul (25) from Kurumdegi village have been kept in isolation ward after being admitted to Sadar Hospital in Simdega on Friday.
Earlier on Sunday, teams of State Health Services and Veterinary Department visited the place and took samples which are to be sent further for tests. “Test results are expected to come by Wednesday,” said Director Health Services Dr Praveen Chandra.
According to Chandra, it could not be said whether the patients are suffering from Anthrax or not could be confirmed only after test results come.
“The treatment of patients and other having symptoms of Anthrax in the area have already been started.
In order to prevent the disease further get spread among the animals, vaccination of cattle in the affected areas has also been done by the veterinary people,” added Chandra.
The villagers reportedly consumed meat of dead cattle on Thursday night and developed blebs and boil, stomach disorder and blood in their stool.
Anthrax– caused by bacteria Bacillus Anthracis – is not new to the area, which has seen two outbreaks since 2014, in different parts of Simdega itself.
“In May last year, two persons from Bandarchuwa village died while 11 others got hospitalized after they were suspected of suffering from the disease.
Similarly in October 2014, seven people of Kuruchdega village died of suspected anthrax outbreak -the highest number of human casualty so far in the state.
Anthrax, according to the officials is transmitted from animals to humans when the diseased meat is consumed by a person or they come in close contact with animals affected by the disease.
Anthrax spores buried in the ground remain dormant for a long time, becomes reactivate after finding a host like humans.
Animals however, get infected by anthrax after consuming fresh grass which sprouts after rains.