Cagayan Valley, Philippines. Mar 1, 2010. One died and there are at least 400 more people infected with anthrax after they ate meat of an infected carabao (water buffalo) in Cagayan province. It has been reported that some unscrupulous vendors in the province sold meat of a carabao that has already been dead even before it was butchered.
According to Cagayan provincial health chief, Dr. Danilo Alonzo, the fatality was the first case of anthrax recorded in Lasam town. He said the man died of heart attack, which they suspect was aggravated by the effects of the anthrax disease.
“The first case was recorded in a hospital in Lasam. He died of a heart disease, but the doctor saw blisters and the man had skin infections,” Alonzo said, adding that these were signs of anthrax infection.
Earlier reports said that more than 50 people were infected by the bacteria, but Alonzo said there were actually 400 cases. Dr. Alonzo further said that the 50 patients were the ones who were able to seek medical help at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center. The majority of the cases were treated in Lasam town, through the help of the provincial government.
Alonzo said majority of the 400 patients have already recovered, and only 13 remain under observation at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center.
Several years ago, Anthrax became popular when there was threat of terrorist attacks using Anthrax as biological weapon.
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis and affects both humans and other animals. Anthrax commonly infects wild and domesticated herbivorous mammals which ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Anthrax spores can be produced in vitro and used as a biological weapon. Anthrax does not spread directly from one infected animal or person to another; it is spread by spores. These spores can be transported by clothing or shoes. The dead body of an animal that died of anthrax can also be a source of anthrax spores.