New Vaccines in the Pipeline 2020

Anthrax Patients Escape From Health Centre

Three Anthrax patients have escaped from Kolir Health Centre III in Bukedea District where they had been admitted for monitoring and treatment.

Last week, health authorities in the district confirmed an outbreak of Anthrax in Aminit Sub-county where three people were admitted for close monitoring and treatment at Kolir Health Centre III.

In an interview with Daily Monitor on Wednesday, Mr Moses Oluka, the officer-in-charge at the facility, said the patients escaped on Tuesday morning.

"We were supposed to isolate them. We told them to sit aside as we prepared ourselves, (put on our protective gear). When we went back to check on them, we found that they had escaped," he said. 

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus Anthracis.

It occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals. People can get the disease if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

The symptoms of the disease include a raised, itchy bump that looks like an insect bite that quickly develops into a painless sore with a black centre, swelling in the sore and nearby lymph glands, and sometimes, flu-like symptoms including fever and headache.

Dr Emmanuel Odeke, the Bukedea District health officer, said his office is doing all it takes to contain the spread of the disease.

He urged local leaders to step up community sensitisation to curb its spread.

"The current victims are said to have contracted the disease while skinning a cow which died of the disease. It requires a lot of sensitisation and a lot of community engagement. That is the biggest challenge about the disease, otherwise, it is not supposed to be very complicated if managed well," he said.

Mr William Wilberforce Tukei, the Bukedea Resident District Commissioner (RDC), urged the community to be vigilant and mindful of their lives.

"Currently Bukedea is under quarantine. My warning to the people, let's stop the habit of eating borrowed meat from other districts," he said.

He added that his office is going to deploy a team of vigilantes to ensure that the victims who disappeared from the health facility are rounded up.

Third Resident Of Russia's Chuvash Republic Shows Symptoms Of Anthrax, Says Regional Head

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. The third resident of Russia's Chuvash Republic has started showing symptoms of anthrax, regional head Oleg Nikolayev wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.

"A person who took part in the slaughtering of a sick bull in the Tsivilsk municipality has started showing symptoms of anthrax," he noted.

Nikolayev added that the patient was currently staying in another Russian region. "The patient has been isolated and remains under medical observation," the regional head said.

Last week, two people were hospitalized with anthrax in the Chuvash Republic. On March 16, a quarantine was placed on the village where they live. In addition, a state of emergency was introduced in the district.

Anthrax The Cause Of Cattle Deaths On Quarantined Property North-east Of Shepparton

In short:Anthrax has been confirmed as the cause of several animal deaths in north-east Victoria.

The affected farm is under quarantine.

What's next? Cattle are being vaccinated as authorities assess the scale of the outbreak.

Anthrax has been confirmed as the cause of death of several animals on a cattle property north-east of Shepparton.

The property has been quarantined.

Anthrax is a disease caused by spore-forming bacteria that naturally occur in soil.

Grazing livestock are at the greatest risk of coming into contact with the bacteria, which can cause death within hours.

Agriculture Victoria said the dead animals have been disposed of, while the remaining cattle on the property are being vaccinated.

Anthrax can affect humans — although rarely — and a wide range of animals, with nearly all cases in Victoria having been seen in livestock, particularly grazing cattle and sheep.

Once ingested by animals, the bacteria produce potent toxins that cause the clinical signs of anthrax in animals, including fever, a lack of appetite, lethargy or sudden death, often with blood visible at the nose, mouth, and/or anus.

Swift action taken

Victoria's deputy chief veterinary officer Dr Cameron Bell said five animals had died from the illness and had been disposed of in Agriculture Victoria's specialised portable incinerator unit.

He said decisive action had been taken to limit the outbreak.

"Thanks to the early reporting by the owner and owner's vet, Ag Vic was able to undertake the necessary steps to control the spread of infection," he said.

"Since that notification we've quarantined the property and undertaken a number of measures to try and contain the spread.

"All the livestock on the property have been vaccinated and carcasses are in the process of being disposed of by burning, and the contaminated sites are being disinfected."

Agriculture Victoria is urging farmers to report unexplained livestock deaths.(ABC Rural: Marty McCarthy)

The burning of the dead animals aims to limit the spread of spores.

"Burning carcasses on-site is a very effective way to destroy the infected carcasses and prevent spread," Dr Bell said.

He urged people to be on the lookout for unexplained deaths and report them immediately.

"The key message is that any time of the year, anywhere in Victoria, it's really important to report unexplained livestock deaths," he said.

Long-life bacteria

The bacteria that cause anthrax can live in soils for up to half a century, livestock veterinarian Alison Gunn said.

Wet weather can help the bacteria to multiply, and when soil dries out they can form spores.

Northern Victoria has experienced a wet summer followed by recent hot, dry days.

"I think the biggest thing you need to do is be aware that now is a risk period, and if you have any suddenly dead animals you should investigate it," Dr Gunn said.

Can anthrax spread to humans?

According to Agriculture Victoria, anthrax can spread to humans. However, very few human cases of anthrax have been reported in Victoria.

The greatest risk is to those who handle dead livestock, such as farmers, veterinarians and knackery workers.

People can become infected with anthrax via:

the skin — usually occupational exposure from handling and processing infected carcasses and animal products

the lungs — from breathing in anthrax spores

the gastrointestinal tract — from eating contaminated, undercooked food, typically meat from animals that have died from anthrax

This risk is greatly reduced in at-risk occupations by the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as appropriate clothing and gloves, covering of any wounds, and other good hygiene practices.

The last documented case of human anthrax in Victoria was in 2007 in a knackery worker who had contact with an infected carcass. They became infected through bacteria entering via the skin, received treatment, and subsequently recovered.

Source: Agriculture Victoria

Personal protective equipment is essential for anyone handling animals suspected to be infected with anthrax.

"There is a risk to humans," Dr Gunn said.

"Most commonly it causes an infection on the skin or it gets into a cut on the skin, and then you get blisters and quite a nasty infection."

In about 5 per cent of cases, people infected with anthrax can develop lung or gastrointestinal infections, she said.

Outbreaks of anthrax have previously been confirmed in the area.

In 2022, an anthrax outbreak occurred at a sheep property in the Murray River region. 

Reports can be made to private veterinarians or to Agriculture Victoria's Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 000.

Key stories of the day for Australian primary producers, delivered each weekday afternoon.

Posted 11 Feb 202411 Feb 2024Sun 11 Feb 2024 at 9:43pm, updated 12 Feb 202412 Feb 2024Mon 12 Feb 2024 at 2:21am

---