KUALA LUMPUR – Thailand is on alert after neighbouring Laos reported an outbreak of anthrax where dozens of people are suspected of being infected.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered authorities to closely monitor the outbreak and work to “protect the public”.
According to spokesman Chai Watcharong, the Thai public health minister is to monitor the situation, especially near the borders.
Thais living along the Laotian border are encouraged to alert authorities if they notice any abnormalities in their livestock and other animals.
Those who have been in contact with sick animals are advised to see a doctor urgently.
“If your cows or buffalos die suspiciously, please inform the authorities,” he said in a statement.
Anthrax, which spreads through bacteria in soil, commonly infects grazing livestock and wild animals but can infect humans and be deadly in some cases.
Humans can become infected by breathing in the spores, eating contaminated food or touching bacteria with broken skin, for instance when handling diseased animals, reported AFP.
Media in Laos have reported 65 suspected cases, including 54 in southern Champasak province, which borders Thailand.
Thailand has not had a human anthrax case since 2001. In 1995, the country reported 102 cases, the highest in a year. – March 28, 2024