Community Anthrax Scare Devastates Beef Sales in Ubon Ratchathani

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath.

 

Local beef vendors in Ubon Ratchathani province are reporting a dramatic 90% drop in sales following recent reports of an anthrax outbreak affecting cattle and buffalo meat in the region.

 

Authorities, including Dr. Suphot Rotchan, the provincial livestock official, conducted inspections at major meat stalls along Kantharalak Road in Warin Chamrap district, a well-known hub for beef, buffalo, and pork sales. The visits aimed to ensure that vendors held valid animal carcass sale permits and were aware of the symptoms and risks associated with anthrax.

 

Despite no official confirmation linking local meat to any contamination, panic among consumers has had a devastating effect on business.

 

“We used to sell up to 100 kilograms of beef per day,” said Ms. Kanyapat Lomwong, a longtime meat vendor. “Now we’re lucky to sell even 10 kilograms. Sometimes I sit here for hours and don’t even sell one.”

 

Kanyapat noted that the downturn began shortly after the Songkran festival, when news first broke about anthrax concerns in livestock. Sales, once guaranteed at a minimum of 50 kilograms per day, have plummeted to levels so low that she has had to cut staff shifts to reduce daily losses.

 

“We’re barely making enough to cover daily costs,” she added. “People are scared and won’t come near beef or buffalo meat anymore.”

 

Dr. Suphot urged the public to stay calm, assuring that regular veterinary inspections and safety protocols are in place. He encouraged vendors to display proper certification to reassure consumers of the meat’s safety.

 

Meanwhile, local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, promising to step up public education efforts to counter the spread of misinformation and help revive confidence in the province’s meat markets.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1360031-anthrax-control-centre-to-open-in-mukdahan-after-local-death/

 

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

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from ThaiRath 2025-05-09.

 

 

 

 

[ozz1]

You can hardly blame them home slaughtered meat no inspections no meat hygiene regulations

[hotchilli]

On 5/9/2025 at 4:12 AM, Georgealbert said:

The visits aimed to ensure that vendors held valid animal carcass sale permits and were aware of the symptoms and risks associated with anthrax.

I wouldn't trust anyone.... lack of real inspections and animal health/movements.

[Tarteso]

On 5/9/2025 at 4:12 AM, Georgealbert said:

promising to step up public education efforts

This is not a promise’s question, we are talking about Public Health Security. 👎

[jacnl2000]

In the case of anthrax spores, the traditional proverb “The proof of the pudding is in the eating” becomes not just inapplicable—but dangerously misleading. A better piece of wisdom might be: the safety of the pudding is in the testing, not the tasting. The problem with anthrax tests is that they cannot be done on-site, such as in a restaurant, by an operator named Pat—whose whereabouts after nearly seven years on AN are still unknown. 😉 Well, you can't test every cup of water, but you can protect the well. I wouldn't trust anyone too much either.

[shackleton]

Stick to pork and chicken you know it makes sense and cheaper to

On the wallet 🤑

[Cameroni]

Or just buy Australian beef.

[digger70]

Anthrax Scare Devastates Beef Sales in Ubon Ratchathani 

 

One can't blame people for not buying , they know how the animals are killed and that they can't trust some sellers for doing the right thing some will sell anything good or Bad.

[pest]

Meat shelves are full of beef in Big C too 

Waiting for the yellow discount stickers

 

[Aussie999]

Wait until this hits the international news, simply the mention of anthrax could almost stop tourism.