KHUJAND, July 18, 2013, Asia-Plus — A new case of anthrax registered in the Bobojonghafurov district on July 16 has brought the total number of anthrax–infected persons in the northern province of Sughd to seven.
The first deputy head of the Sughd center for sanitary and epidemiological supervision, Nasibjon Ikromov, says they are taking measures to prevent spread of various infectious diseases in the province.
According to him, 33 persons having contact with the source of infection (infected animal) have been detected in Ayni. Besides, 28 such persons have been detected in Panjakent and six such persons have been detected in the Bobojonghafurov district. “All these persons have been registered and they are currently under the care of physicians,” Ikromov said.
We will recall that in early July, four case cases of anthrax were reported in the Ayni district and two other cases of anthrax were reported in Panjakent.
The anthrax patients from Ayni were taken for further medical treatment to the Khujand infectious diseases hospital. One of physicians with the Khujand hospital, who wanted to remain unnamed, says that one of anthrax patients taken to their hospital from the Ayni district died. “The 57-year-old resident of Ayni probably contracted the disease while slaughtering an infected cow,” said the physician. “He was taken to the rural hospital on July 5 and they took him to our hospital only on July 7. Unfortunately, it was too late and he died on July 8.”
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and animals. There are effective vaccines against anthrax, and some forms of the disease respond well to antibiotic treatment.
Like many other members of the genus Bacillus, Bacillus anthracis can form dormant endospores (often referred to as “spores” for short, but not to be confused with fungal spores) that are able to survive in harsh conditions for decades or even centuries. Such spores can be found on all continents, even Antarctica. When spores are inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with a skin lesion on a host, they may become reactivated and multiply rapidly.
Anthrax commonly infects wild and domesticated herbivorous mammals that ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Ingestion is thought to be the most common route by which herbivores contract anthrax. Carnivores living in the same environment may become infected by consuming infected animals. Diseased animals can spread anthrax to humans, either by direct contact (e.g., inoculation of infected blood to broken skin) or by consumption of a diseased animal”s flesh.
