Thailand reports anthrax outbreak after rare death: What you should know

Thailand has issued a health alert following reports of anthrax cases in the country. There have been three cases of anthrax in a northeastern province bordering Laos, according to Thai health authorities. One of them died while 98 people remain under surveillance for the disease, reports the Bangkok Post.

How did the Thailand anthrax outbreak happen?

The Thai health ministry said the fatality was the first of its kind in Thailand in three decades. He fell ill on April 27 and died on April 30. Local health authorities think the infection came from a group of people who butchered cattle and distributed beef for participants in a merit-making activity.

What is anthrax and how does it spread?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national public health agency of the United States, anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which primarily affects animals but can also infect humans through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

Types of anthrax infections and their symptoms

CDC says there are five main ways anthrax affects people:

1. Cutaneous (skin):It is the most common form. It occurs when spores enter the body through cuts or abrasions in the skin. Symptoms include a raised, itchy bump resembling an insect bite that develops into a painless sore with a black center. With prompt antibiotic treatment, cutaneous anthrax is typically curable.
2. Inhalation: The most serious form, occurring when spores are inhaled. Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold but can progress rapidly to severe respiratory distress and shock. Inhalation anthrax requires aggressive antibiotic therapy and supportive care.
3. Gastrointestinal:Results from consuming contaminated meat. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Gastrointestinal anthrax is associated with high mortality rates due to delayed diagnosis and rapid progression.
4. Metalwork: This rare and newly discovered form of anthrax has shown up in a few welders and metalworkers. It’s not a typical workplace hazard, but this one causes a very serious kind of pneumonia that can turn deadly.
5. Injections: This type of anthrax has been seen in people who inject drugs, especially heroin. Injection anthrax is similar to the skin form but goes much deeper, infecting the muscles and tissues under the skin where the drug was injected.