According to reports from provincial veterinary management agencies, 14 cases of anthrax have been recorded nationwide since the beginning of 2023.

Localities need to comply with veterinary regulations to prevent the spread of anthrax from cattle to humans. Photo: Tung Dinh.

These cases were identified in two provinces: Hà Giang (1 case) and Điện Biên (13 cases).

In livestock, four anthrax outbreaks have been detected: one in Hà Giang and three in Dien Bien.

Anthrax is classified as a notifiable disease, a zoonotic disease, and a disease in animals for which slaughter and treatment are prohibited.

The primary cause of these outbreaks is the lack of vaccination against anthrax in livestock. When buffalo or cattle died, local residents failed to report the incidents to authorities or veterinary agencies. Instead, they slaughtered and consumed the infected meat, leading to disease transmission to those involved in slaughtering and consuming the diseased livestock.

The risk of anthrax outbreaks continuing in Hà Giang and Điện Biên and spreading to other provinces through the trade, transportation, and consumption of infected livestock and meat remains very high soon.

To urgently control and prevent the widespread transmission of anthrax, minimize human infections, and protect livestock, the Department of Animal Health (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has requested provincial Directors of Agriculture and Rural Development to allocate resources and implement robust, synchronized measures to prevent and control animal diseases in accordance with the Veterinary Law and Circular No. 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT dated May 31, 2016.

Local authorities and specialized agencies must directly oversee the culling and disposal of infected livestock to prevent the spread of the disease.

Regular sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization measures must be conducted continuously to eliminate pathogens. Control checkpoints must be established to monitor the transportation of livestock and meat from infected areas to prevent the disease’s spread.

Emergency vaccination campaigns should be organized to contain outbreaks and vaccinate at-risk livestock, particularly in areas where infected animals were slaughtered or their meat was consumed.

Raising awareness among the public is also crucial. Residents must be informed about the symptoms and dangers of anthrax. They are advised not to transport, slaughter, sell, give away, or consume infected or suspected livestock. Immediate reporting to authorities and veterinary agencies is necessary when animals show signs of illness. Residents should cooperate with authorities and professionals in handling outbreaks and strictly adhere to all disease prevention measures.

It is essential to ensure that individuals involved in disease control and outbreak handling use personal protective equipment and adopt biosecurity measures to avoid exposure to anthrax spores, which may already be present in the environment, soil, and water in areas with infected animals or where infected meat has been processed or consumed.

Veterinary units must also advise authorities to declare outbreaks and implement disease control measures as required.

Enhanced clinical surveillance is necessary to detect and promptly manage human and animal anthrax cases. If any suspected cases in livestock are identified, samples should be collected and sent to the National Center for Veterinary Diagnostics for testing. Reports on suspected and confirmed cases must be timely, accurate, and complete.

Localities must ensure close coordination between the health and veterinary sectors in sharing information, investigating outbreaks, preventing transmission from infected livestock to humans, and implementing disease prevention and control measures as regulated.

If necessary, specialized teams should be formed, and experienced veterinary professionals should be dispatched to high-risk areas to collaborate, inspect, and guide the implementation of anthrax prevention and control measures.

Requirements for Anthrax Sample Testing

Samples for anthrax bacterial testing must comply with TCVN 8400-52:2022 standards. Packaging and shipping procedures must follow the guidelines outlined in Official Dispatch No. 2185/TY-KH dated December 31, 2021, issued by the Department of Animal Health. Samples must be triple-packaged according to Category A infectious substance packaging regulations.

Source: Tùng Đinh, Vietnam Agriculture News