After deaths of three persons recently, which is being linked by doctors to their cooking and eating the meat of a goat that died, teams from the state health department and the animal resources department (ARD) have visited and collected samples from a village in the Dinhata block of Cooch Behar and sent these to test for anthrax.
The state government has also started vaccination of domesticated animals in the area. “Three people died recently, apparently after they consumed the meat of a domesticated animal. A health department team and other officials are camping in the area. Samples have been sent for testing,” North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha told The Indian Express.
“We have prepared four isolation beds, with a care centre set up. This is in case patients start to arrive. Our doctors were part of the team which visited the area,” said Dr Nirmal Kumar Mandal, principal of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical college and hospital in Cooch Behar.
In the third week of April, Jonaku Barman (63), his wife Khiribala Burman (57) and their relative Jayanti Burman, all residents of Brahmattar Chatra village, fell ill after cooking and eating a dead goat, sources said.
Jonako was first taken to the Dinhata sub-divisional hospital but later admitted to Cooch Behar Medical College hospital. He died on April 22. His wife Khiribala, who was admitted at the Dinhata sub-divisional hospital, returned home after signing a bond following her husband’s death. She died at home on April 24. Jayanti, who was admitted to Cooch Behar medical college, died on May 14, the sources said.
A joint team of ARD and state health department officials visited the village on Wednesday and Thursday. The team comprised specialists on infectious diseases, animal health experts and senior health department officials.
According to government sources, samples will be brought to Kolkata and tested at Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals Laboratory.
“However, we are not taking any chances and have started vaccination of all domesticated animals in the area. Steps are being undertaken to raise awareness among villagers. There is no need to panic,” said a senior state government official.
Anthrax is caused by bacterium Bacillus anthracis or Bacillus cereus biovar anthracisThe infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation or intestinal absorption. Fever, blisters on skin, chest pain are among the symptoms, which may occur within days or a couple of months after the infection.