Report Anthrax Control Centre to Open in Mukdahan After Local Death

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An anthrax control centre is set to be established on Wednesday in the Don Tarn district of Mukdahan province, northeastern Thailand, following a fatal anthrax case. The centre aims to distribute medication to individuals at high risk of exposure and monitor them for 60 days.

 

The emergence of anthrax has prompted heightened concerns among locals, particularly in Ban Kok Sawang. Village head Tassanathep Rakpitakkul noted that residents are anxious due to their contact with slaughtered cattle and are seeking answers from authorities regarding the outbreak's origin.

 

Currently, 636 people who consumed raw meat are under observation. Of these, 538 have been cleared of the disease, commonly transmitted from infected cattle, goats, or sheep to humans, or via inhalation of airborne spores.

 

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin has directed the Disease Control Department to enhance surveillance efforts to prevent the spread of anthrax beyond the district. Meanwhile, the Lao government has responded by halting the import and transit of cattle and other animals from Thailand through Laos to Vietnam.

 

The Livestock Development Department is also considering closing cattle markets in the northeastern provinces as a preventive measure to control the situation. These actions reflect the gravity with which authorities are treating the anthrax threat, aiming to protect public health and prevent further transmission.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-05-07