DHAKA: The government Sunday issued red alert across the country amid the spread of anthrax as a measure to prevent the endemic disease from worsening into an epidemic.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas told banglanews24.com.bd that the authorities concerned, including the livestock departments, were asked to be on “red alert” until further notice.

“The disease was first detected on Aug 19 in 26 inhabitants of Chithhulia village under Shahjadpur Upazila in Sirajganj. Later it spread to Ghatail of Tangail, Kushtia and Panchagarh. So, the government issued red alert to take measures for curbing the spread of the disease into other areas of the country,” he said.

The livestock minister asked all not to eat beef without laboratory test.

Latif Biswas said the border guards and the police in the border areas were asked to be on the alert in preventing the entry of “infected cattle”.

He said the government sent 5 lakh vaccines to the areas affected by the new scourge—which surfaced after the epidemics like bird flu and swine flu in the region.

The bird flu hullabaloo had led to indiscriminate mass culling of chickens in the country. In some cases, scaremongering was blamed—and even acts of saboteurs were also suspected in some cases.              

The minister said the government is making the list of the cattle that died of anthrax. “The government is also thinking about compensating the affected owners. Besides, a decision has been taken to introduce ‘Livestock Insurance’ within a month,” the minister added.

Earlier on September 1, 16 new anthrax-infected people were detected in Kushtia’s Dharmadaha village under Doulatpur Upazila, raising the number of infected patients to 193.

In the last incident, one Shahidul was found with anthrax Friday in Sadar Upazila of Panchagarh.

BDST: 1600 HRS, SEPT 5, 2010