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Bangladeshi government probes anthrax case
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-20 14:23
The Bangladeshi government Saturday dispatched an expert team to collect
samples from a wild elephant which died last week and is reported to have
carried anthrax virus, reported the New Nation on Sunday.
The wild elephant was found dead in deep forest of Lama upazila (subdistrict)
in the country's southeastern hill district Bandarban bordering Myanmar.
The forest department in Bandarban sent sample of blood and flesh from the
carcass to Chittagong Veterinary College on June 11, and experts there found
anthrax in the sample after testing, said ADM Saifuddin, a professor of the
college.
The directorate of health services under the Health Ministry on Saturday sent
a three-member expert team to Bandarban to collect samples from the carcass of
the elephant and test again.
Director General of Health Services Mizanur Rahman was quoted as saying if
laboratory tests confirmed the preliminary report, the government would take
appropriate steps to prevent spread of the virus.
According to Daily Star on Sunday, the department of livestock of Bandarban
on Saturday sent 700 anthrax virus protection vaccines to Lama upazila in a bid
to prevent possible spread of the disease among local cattle.
The local administration also made the area where the elephant was buried
off-limits to public, and pure 60 kg lime and other chemicals around the burial
ground to keep it clean.
Experts pointed out anthrax is an acute infectious disease that most commonly
affects hoofed mammals, but can also infect humans. As the elephants from
Myanmar often intrude into Bangladeshi forest, the experts fear the virus may
make its way to Bangladesh from Myanmar or Thailand.
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