Thailand Reports First Death Due To Antraks In Three Decades

JAKARTA - Thailand recorded its first critical death in three decades after a 53-year-old man in the country's northeastern Mukdahan province died on Wednesday 30 May. Thailand's Ministry of Health said the victim was infected with the bacteria of Bacllus anthracis.

This Thai anti-extraction case is the second confirmed in the same province. While the other three suspected infections are still under investigation.

Authorities have identified 638 people who have the potential to be exposed, with 36 of them involved in slaughtering livestock, and the rest eating raw or half-cooked beef. All high-risk contacts are immediately given preventive antibiotics.

"All individuals who may have been in contact with the infected meat will be closely monitored," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Health regarding the Thai anti-extraction case, quoted by Thainews, Saturday, May 3.

Animal quarantine is applied within a 5 km radius around the location of the case, under the supervision of the Livestock Department. The plan to vaccinate 1,222 cows has also been prepared, although there have been no reports of animals dying suddenly or getting sick without explanation.

Antraks is a serious but non-communicable zoonosis disease. Generally this occurs due to direct contact with infected animals or polluted meat consumption.

Thailand's anti-extraction reported in humans was in 2017 (two cases without death), and the last death occurred in 1994 (three victims).