Four die of anthrax in Rayagada, 10 hospitalised

Kalyansinghpur: While four tribals of Jambuguda village under Kashipur block in Rayagada district have died of anthrax after consuming beef within a week, 10 more tribals of the village, suffering from the disease, have been admitted to district headquarters hospital where their condition is stated to be critical, reports said.

Talking to OTV, Parshu Majhi of Jambuguda village said some tribals of the village had consumed the meat of a dead cow about 15-20 days ago. “Two persons died within three days while two more died after another two days."

Another villager, Arun Majhi, said he, along with some villagers, had consumed the meat of a cow which had died of some unknown disease two weeks ago.

“After a week, we fell ill. Within the next week, four villagers died in quick succession. I am also feeling uncomfortable. I have a feeling that a portion of my hand is paralysed,” he informed.

He said following the death, a team of doctors from the Kashipur Community Health Centre (CHC) had visited the village and provided medicines to the patients.

Talking to media persons, Dr Shantibhusan Pathi, in-charge of Kashipur CHC, confirmed the death of four tribals and said three more patients were found afflicted by anthrax and shifted to the district headquarters hospitalon Monday.

“Generally, people suffer from anthrax if they consume the meat of an animal which is affected by the anthrax disease,” he added.

While admitting that the situation in in the village is critical, Pathi said efforts are on to bring the situation under control.