Thailand reports Anthrax death linked to meat

New Delhi

Thailand has confirmed the death of a 53-year-old man from anthrax, a dangerous bacterial illness. Health officials said the man died after eating raw meat during a local religious event in Don Tan district of Mukdahan province. He was a construction worker and also had diabetes. He got sick on April 24 with a wound on his hand and was hospitalized three days later. His condition worsened, showing signs like blackened skin, swollen lymph nodes, fainting, and seizures before he died.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said this was the first confirmed human anthrax case in the area. The disease, caused by Bacillus anthracis, mostly affects livestock but can also harm humans through contact with sick animals or by eating contaminated meat.

Though no sick animals have been found in the area, health officials have issued alerts and are watching closely. The Department of Livestock Development (DLD) is testing meat, blood, hides, and cow droppings from local sources. They have also started quarantining animals, giving them penicillin, and banning grazing in risky zones. Slaughter sites and animal pens are being cleaned.

Farmers are being told to report sudden animal deaths and signs like bleeding from the nose or mouth. People are being strongly warned not to eat raw meat, as anthrax can spread this way. Authorities are working hard to stop the disease from spreading.