JakartaPost-July 7, 2023
Health authorities are scaling up efforts to curb the spread of anthrax in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, following an outbreak that has infected dozens of local residents and killed three people. Anthrax is a highly contagious zoonotic disease that typically affects livestock and can cause blackened skin, sores, vomiting, shock and meningitis. Humans can contract the disease by breathing in the spores of the Bacillus anthracis bacteria, consuming contaminated food or drinks or through direct exposure to wounds on infected animals, their meat or their hides. Anthrax has been used in bioterrorism attacks but is also still prevalent in many parts of the developing world. Imran Pambudi, the Health Ministry’s director for infectious disease prevention and control, said that the outbreak started on May 18 when a cow belonging to a resident of Candirejo village in Gunung Kidul suddenly died. “The owner cut up the dead cow and distributed the meat to other residents as part of a local tradition called purak or brandu,” he said in a press briefing on Thursday. “From May 18 to June 4, the Candirejo residents consumed at least three dead livestock in their village.” Purak or brandu refers to the slaughtering of dying farm animals for their meat to be distributed freely for fellow locals in the spirit of community and communal care. Local authorities previously surmised that residents had dug up and consumed dead livestock that officials had previously disinfected and buried in order to contain the spread of the disease. The first anthrax-related death in the village was reported on May 25, followed by a second, four days later, and the third fatality on June 4. The first deceased tested positive for the bacterial infection, while the other two showed clinical symptoms of anthrax. All three took part in the cutting up of the contaminated meat. Although anthrax is considered endemic in Yogyakarta and infections are reported in the province almost every year, Imran said the latest incident was the first time since 2016 that the disease had caused human deaths there. Read more at: https://www.
