The government authorities have taken urgent measures to combat the anthrax outbreaks among cattle in several districts in Bangladesh.
The Department of Livestock Services has initiated coordinated efforts to contain anthrax, a bacterial zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
As part of the programmes to prevent the spread of the disease, local livestock offices, in coordination with local administrations, are conducting vaccination, animal health checkups, courtyard meetings, street rallies, leaflet distribution, and other public awareness campaigns.
The department has intensified public awareness efforts by publishing notices in national newspapers and launching awareness campaigns with the help of local authorities.
In addition, field teams are monitoring affected areas, preventing the slaughter of infected animals, and ensuring that all farm animals are brought under vaccination coverage.
Under the “one health” initiative, the department is working closely with the Directorate General of Health Services to raise awareness among the people.
Officials are organising meetings and training sessions to educate communities on key preventive measures – such as avoiding the slaughter of sick animals, properly burying dead livestock instead of leaving them in open spaces or water bodies, and immediately contacting nearby veterinary hospitals or livestock offices in case of animal-related illnesses.
Rangpur and Gaibandha districts have been identified as the most anthrax-affected areas, where special vaccination drives are being carried out.
The Livestock Research Institute (LRI) will soon supply around 3 million anthrax vaccines to Rangpur division, of which 2 million doses will be sent specifically to Rangpur and Gaibandha.
In Rangpur district, anthrax vaccination has already been completed for 167,000 cattle in its nine upazilas – Pirganj (53,400), Kaunia (34,000), Rangpur Sadar (26,500), Mithapukur (34,500), Gangachara (4,800), Taraganj (4,300), Badarganj (5,000), and Pirgachha (5,000).
A total of 36 medical teams has been deployed at 36 slaughterhouses for animal health inspections, while 32 vaccination teams have been formed in different upazilas of Rangpur district.
In Gaibandha’s Sundarganj upazila, 26,400 cattle have been vaccinated as part of the preventive measures.
A mobile court, with assistance from the local administration, has fined offenders a total of Tk 15,000, while five veterinary medical teams have been formed.
Although all 11 collected blood samples tested negative for anthrax, 10 out of 11 meat samples tested positive. Following the ministry’s directive, the department has formed a high-level investigation team to identify the sources of infection and assess the situation in Rangpur and Gaibandha.
The team will visit the affected areas and submit a detailed report soon.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock emphasised that it will be possible to control anthrax with the combined efforts from the authorities concerned.
