Urgently control and prevent Anthrax from spreading widely

According to reports from provincial veterinary management agencies, from the beginning of 2023 to now, there have been 14 people infected with Anthrax nationwide. Four outbreaks of Anthrax have been detected in livestock in Ha Giang and Dien Bien provinces. This is a disease on the list of diseases that must be declared as epidemics, diseases transmitted between animals and humans, and animal diseases that are prohibited from slaughtering and treating.

The Department of Animal Health ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ) has just issued Official Dispatch No. 957/TY-DT to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the veterinary management agencies of Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Son La, Cao Bang and Lao Cai provinces on strengthening the prevention and control of Anthrax.

According to reports from provincial veterinary management agencies, from the beginning of 2023 to now, there have been 14 people nationwide infected with Anthrax in the two provinces of Ha Giang (1 case) and Dien Bien (13 cases).

Four outbreaks of Anthrax have been detected in livestock in Ha Giang (1 outbreak) and Dien Bien (3 outbreaks). This is a disease on the list of diseases that must be declared as epidemics, diseases transmitted between animals and humans, and animal diseases that are prohibited from slaughtering and treating.

The main reason is that cattle have not been vaccinated against Anthrax; when buffaloes and cows die, people do not report to the authorities or local veterinary agencies, but slaughter and eat the meat on their own, leading to the spread of the disease to those who directly slaughter and eat the meat of sick cattle.

According to the Department of Animal Health, the risk of anthrax epidemic continuing to occur in Ha Giang and Dien Bien provinces and spreading to other provinces due to trading, transporting, and using diseased livestock and livestock meat in the coming time is very high.

Therefore, in order to urgently control and prevent the Anthrax epidemic from spreading widely, minimize the number of people infected and protect livestock, the Department of Animal Health requests the Directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of the provinces to urgently direct the concentration of resources to resolutely and synchronously implement measures to prevent and control animal diseases in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Animal Health and Circular No. 07 dated May 31, 2016 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In particular, local authorities and specialized agencies directly organize the treatment and destruction of diseased livestock to prevent the spread of disease; regularly and continuously implement sanitation, disinfection and sterilization measures to destroy pathogens; set up stations and checkpoints to control the transportation of livestock and livestock meat from epidemic areas to the outside.

In particular, urgently organize vaccination to surround epidemic areas, vaccinate high-risk livestock in places where people slaughter sick livestock, and where people buy meat from livestock suspected of being sick for consumption.

Educate people about the signs and dangers of Anthrax; do not arbitrarily transport, slaughter, sell, donate, or eat sick or suspected sick animals. At the same time, notify local authorities and veterinary agencies as soon as animals showing signs of the disease are detected; coordinate with authorities and specialized agencies to handle outbreaks and strictly implement disease prevention and control measures.

In particular, it is important to note and instruct people and those participating in epidemic prevention and control to have personal protective equipment and apply biosafety measures to avoid being infected with Anthrax pathogens (because it is very possible that Anthrax pathogens and spores have spread into the environment, soil, and water in places where there are sick livestock, where people slaughter and use meat from sick livestock).

The Department of Animal Health recommends that localities consult competent authorities to declare the epidemic and strictly apply disease prevention and control measures in accordance with regulations.

Strengthen clinical surveillance for early detection to promptly handle cases of Anthrax in humans and livestock. If suspected cases of livestock are detected, samples must be taken and sent to the Central Veterinary Diagnosis Center for testing. The type of sample sent for Anthrax bacteria testing is according to TCVN 8400-52:2022. The process of packaging and sending samples follows the Instructions attached to Official Dispatch No. 2185/TY-KH dated December 31, 2021 of the Department of Animal Health, especially noting that samples must be packaged in 3 layers according to the packaging specifications of type A infectious substances.

Localities promptly, fully and accurately report cases of anthrax and suspected cases. Close coordination between the health and veterinary sectors in sharing information, investigating outbreaks, preventing pathogens from spreading from infected livestock to humans and implementing disease prevention and control measures according to regulations.

Along with that, establish working groups, assign veterinary staff with expertise and experience to go directly to localities with epidemics and high risks to coordinate, inspect, guide, and urge the implementation of measures to prevent and control Anthrax epidemics in accordance with regulations.

Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper

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