TANGAIL: The strain of bacteria anthrax that created the worst anxiety, visits again in the country as 11 patients of the disease were identified in Ambaria village under Madhupur upazila of the district recently.

The Livestock Officer of the upazila Dr Hazrat Ali confirmed the matter to banglanews on Monday.

The villagers were advised to stay in alert position and beware of it to avert the disease, he added.

A resident of the village Abdul Aziz and the Headmaster of Islampur Government Primary School Abdul Mannan said that people, who slaughtered an anthrax infected cow and came in touch with the meat, are now suffering from this disease.

One of them Rahmat Ali was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, they added.

The affected people include Anowar, Azad, Razzak, Tota Mia, Rahmat Ali, Salma, Mahfuja, Sajeda and Masud.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) M Habib Ullah, Mirzabari UP Chairman Sadiqul Islam and Livestock Officer of the upazila Dr Hazrat Ali visited the area and suggested the people to be aware of it.

A medical team under the supervision of upazila health complex is providing first aid service in the area.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Hafizur Rahman said that a list of 79 people is made, who handled the meat of the infected cows. They will be monitored closely and treated if necessary, he added.

Director General of Livestock Department Dr Mojammel Haque Siddique along with other senior health officials visited the place and monitored the affected people.

Livestock Deputy Director of Dhaka division Dr Jatindra Nath Das said that vaccines were provided to some 1,000 animals of the area to get rid of this disease.

However, the bacterium can survive in harsh conditions for even centuries in the soil. Cattle get infected while grazing during rainy days when water brings the bacterium to the surface.

Anthrax does not spread directly from one infected human or animal to another, but is spread through spores.

Humans can contract anthrax from handling diseased animals or eating infected meat.

BDST: 2020 HRS, AUG 25, 2014