Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

Residents of a rural village near the Thai-Laos border are gripped with fear following the sudden and unexplained deaths of three cows, sparking concerns of a possible anthrax outbreak.

 

Mr. Samai Rittisak, village headman of Kaewtaw Village, Moo 6, Na Di Subdistrict, Dan Sai District, received a report from local resident Mr. Jad Rittisak, 60, who had taken his cows to graze in forested land not far from the Hueang River, which lies near the Thai-Lao border. 

 

Shockingly, three female cows aged between three and five years old were found dead, each in separate spots no more than 20 metres apart. None of the animals showed any external wounds, and the cause of death remains unknown.

 

News of the incident spread rapidly through the village, raising fears among locals of a potential anthrax outbreak. In response, district authorities acted swiftly. At 10:30 on 2 May, Dan Sai District Chief Mr. Thanayut Yaikaew deployed administrative officers, medical personnel, and livestock officials to investigate.

 

Veterinary officials collected swab samples from the deceased animals and promptly buried the carcasses. While initial inspections did not reveal signs typically associated with anthrax, such as bleeding from natural orifices, the stiffness of the bodies raised some concern. Experts cautioned that only lab results from tissue samples would confirm the actual cause of death.

 

As a precaution, livestock officials disinfected the area where the cows were found and urged villagers to closely monitor their cattle for unusual symptoms. Locals have also been advised to temporarily refrain from consuming raw meat.

 

The community now awaits the test results with a mixture of anxiety and hope, as officials work to rule out the deadly zoonotic disease.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1359368-anthrax-death-reported-in-mukdahan-province/

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-03.

 

 

 

UPDATE
Three Cows Die in Loei – Nylon Rope Ingestion Suspected

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

The sudden deaths of three cows in Dan Sai district, Loei province, have been preliminarily linked to intestinal blockage caused by ingestion of nylon rope, according to the provincial livestock office.

 

Concerns were initially raised after images and reports circulated on 2 May showing three cows belonging to Mr. Jut Rittisak, a resident of Ban Kaeng Tao, Moo 6, Na Dee Subdistrict, had died without any apparent cause. Fears of a possible anthrax outbreak quickly spread among the local population.

 

In response, a joint investigation was launched by the Loei Provincial Livestock Office, the Dan Sai District Livestock Office, the local quarantine station, and community leaders. Officials visited the scene on the morning of 2 May and discovered the decomposing remains of two cows, while a third, a calf, had gone missing.

 

Samples from the carcasses and blood from other cows in the herd were collected and sent for laboratory analysis at the Upper Northeastern Veterinary Research and Development Centre. Meanwhile, the dead animals were buried following veterinary protocols to prevent any potential health risks.

 

Initial inspections suggested that the deaths were unlikely to have been caused by a contagious animal disease. The remaining cows were found to be in good health, with normal behaviour and no signs of illness.

 

However, investigators noted the presence of dry straw bales tied with nylon rope scattered across the pen. This led to the hypothesis that the animals may have ingested the rope, resulting in gastrointestinal obstruction, a known and potentially fatal issue in livestock.

 

Authorities are awaiting confirmation from laboratory tests before issuing a final cause of death. In the meantime, livestock officers have advised local farmers to avoid using synthetic materials around feeding areas.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-05-04.