At least 11 people in Kishamat Sadar village of Belka Union under Sundarganj upazila in Gaibandha district have developed symptoms of anthrax after slaughtering a diseased cow.
According to local sources, seven of the affected individuals received treatment at Rabeya Clinic and Nursing Home and Rabeya Diagnostic Centre in Gaibandha town on Friday evening (October 3) before being discharged. The remaining patients were treated locally.
Among the more seriously affected are Moja Mia, Mozammel Mia, Shafiqul Islam, and Mahbur Rahman.
Professor Dr Md Manjurul Karim Prince, head of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, who treated the patients, confirmed that the symptoms—blisters, sores, fever, pain, and itching on the hands, face, eyes, and other parts of the body—were consistent with anthrax infection.
“They have been given primary treatment and sent home,” Dr Karim said, adding that anthrax is not a contagious disease and is typically contracted during the slaughtering or handling of infected animals. “With proper treatment, the patients are expected to recover fully,” he noted.
Local Union Parishad member Hafizar Rahman said that on September 27, an ailing cow belonging to Mahbur Rahman was slaughtered and its meat distributed among about 120 villagers. Around 10–15 people were directly involved in the slaughter and meat processing. “After four days, several of them began developing blisters and ulcers on their skin,” he said, adding that some sought local treatment while others were later admitted to clinics.
Sundarganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Dibakar Basak said that four to five patients came to the hospital on Thursday with anthrax-like symptoms. “They were given preliminary treatment and advised to seek further care at Gaibandha or Rangpur Medical College Hospital,” he added.
Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Md Mozammel Haque said anthrax infections had recently been detected in the neighbouring Pirganj upazila and have now spread to parts of Sundarganj. Cases have been reported in the Bamandanga, Sarbananda, Tarapur, Belka, and municipal areas, located along the Ghaghat and Teesta rivers.
“Vaccination drives are underway in the affected areas,” he said, explaining that people can become infected by handling or slaughtering infected animals, but not by eating properly cooked meat.
Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Raj Kumar Biswas said that awareness campaigns have been launched to prevent further spread. “Meetings have been held with livestock officials and local representatives to distribute leaflets, make loudspeaker announcements, and raise awareness in the community. Strict instructions have also been issued prohibiting the slaughter of sick animals,” he added.
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