Anthrax infects Orissa villagers, 18 ill

BHUBANESWAR - The total number of anthrax cases in humans in Orissa’s Koraput district since last month has risen to 18 with health officials Wednesday confirming five more victims in the region.

“The latest infections have been detected in Semiliguda block,” additional district medical officer Nabaghana Chaudhuri told IANS over phone.

The disease has attacked three people of Biliguda village and one each at Parajakhandi and Bariguda villages. All of them developed the illness June 2, he said.

Last month, at least 13 people of two villages under neighbouring Dasmantpur block were treated after they were found having the infection. “All these people got the anthrax virus after eating rotten meat,” he said.

“Those affected, including the latest five persons, are out of danger. Medical teams are camping in the affected villages to prevent spread of the disease,” he said.

Koraput district, about 500 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, is not new to Anthrax, a bacterial disease that mostly affects animals and spreads to humans through consumption of contaminated meat.