Explained: What is the Anthrax disease that has been found in Kerala?
Anthrax has usually been found in India’s southern states and is a rare but serious disease that mostly affects animals
After finding several carcasses of wild boar, Kerala health officials on Thursday (June 30) confirmed the presence of anthrax, a serious infectious disease caused by spore-forming bacteria, in Athirappilly of Thrissur district.
Health Minister Veena George confirmed the outbreak and said the government was taking immediate steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
Anthrax has usually been found in India’s southern states and is less frequently found in the northern states. Over the past years, it has been reported in Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Orissa and Karnataka.
Anthrax, also known as malignant pustule or woolsorter’s disease, is a rare but serious disease caused by the rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. It occurs naturally in soil and, according to the WHO it is primarily a disease of herbivores, with both domestic and wild animals being affected by it.
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it is naturally transmissible from animals (usually vertebrae) to humans. People can get the disease through contact with infected animals or animal products that are contaminated with bacteria.
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