Anthrax cases on the rise in Meherpur

MEHERPUR, Oct 15: The number of people infected with anthrax is increasing day by day in the district. First, cattle are being infected with anthrax, and then people are getting infected by eating the meat of the infected animals or by coming into contact with them while preparing meat.

Anthrax is now another name for panic in Meherpur. Although the disease has been spreading year after year, there is no regular vaccination or adequate public awareness activities. As a result, the number of infected people is increasing every year. Many people have been suffering from irritation on their bodies for a long time.

The first anthrax patient was identified in Meherpur District in 2007. Although anthrax first appeared in Kazipur Village of Gangni Upazila, the disease gradually spread to different areas of the upazila. Now, anthrax lesions are being seen on the bodies of men, women and even children in different villages of the upazila.

According to the District Health Department, in the last two decades, 7,000 people have been infected with anthrax in various villages of Gangni Upazila. Although there have been no deaths from the disease so far, many patients have had to carry lesions and pain for a long time.

As the lesions get bigger, the pain also increases. Many are not getting complete relief even with treatment. These people infected with anthrax in Gangni are now spending their days in fear and helplessness.

This year’s picture is even more worrying. In the last four months, samples of 55 anthrax suspects were collected and sent to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). Out of these, anthrax germs were detected in the bodies of 45 people. And in the first nine months of this year, the number of infected people has increased to 462. In addition, those concerned fear that more than 200 cattle are at risk of infection.

The health department has said that the prevalence of this disease is high in the border villages of Gangni. In addition, anthrax infections are more common in various villages of Baot, Kazipur, Matmura, Saharbati and Bamondi unions. 

According to the Gangni Upazila Health Complex, the number of anthrax cases in 2013 was 199, 203 in 2014, 154 in 2015, 240 in 2016, 281 in 2017, 408 in 2018, 660 in 2019, 378 in 2020, 417 in 2021, 644 in 2022, 793 in 2023, 686 in 2024 and 637 in 2025. And the number of infected people until September 2026 was 462.

When asked, Dr Ariful Islam of Gangni Upazila Livestock Department said, “As the upazila is anthrax-prone, we are keeping a watchful eye over the matter. We requested the people to slaughter the affected cattle and not to eat the meat of the cattle.”