Anthrax Outbreak Reported in Myanmar's Mandalay Region

MYANMAR - Dr Ye Tun Win, Chief Veterinary Officer Director General at the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department has reported an outbreak of Anthrax in the Mandalay Region.
calendar icon 28 May 2018
clock icon 2 minute read

The outbreak was initially observed on 4 May and confirmed 20 days later (24 May) after a bacteriological examination was conducted at the Mandalay Diagnostic Laboratory.

An immediate notification was sent to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on Friday, 25 May. The causal agent has been found to be Bacillus anthracis.

According to the report, the affected population comprises cattle, where 130 animals were found to be susceptible, out of which one case was reported. The affected animal was found dead as a result of the outbreak. No animals were killed and/or disposed of.

According to the OIE, contact with the infected animals at a grazing point has been determined as the most likely cause of the outbreak, although other reasons have not been completely ruled out.

District and township veterinary staff, as well as Community Animal Health workers, have visited the infected and the surrounding villages (14-05-2018) for disease control and ring vaccination.

The Headquarter Epidemiology Team also visited the infected village for outbreak investigation. The farmer and colleagues did not bury the carcass and consumed the meat.

As a result of this, five people have been infected (hand and leg areas) and are, at the moment, recovering from the disease.

Some of the control measures that have been applied to prevent further spread of the disease include:

  • Movement control inside the country
  • Vaccination in response to the outbreak(s)
  • Surveillance outside containment and/or protection zone
  • Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone
  • Disinfection

Affected animals are not to receive any form of treatment.

Further Reading

Find out more information on Anthrax by clicking here.

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