The Hindu : Anthrax claims 57 sheep in remote village

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Anthrax claims 57 sheep in remote village

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI July 9 . Anthrax has claimed the lives of 57 sheep in the remote Ayyanagaripalle village in Vedurukuppam mandal of Chittoor district. The disease remained mysterious when a mishap occurred on Monday, which was later confirmed as anthrax by animal husbandry officials after clinical diagnosis. The situation is now under control.

The disease that made international headlines last year with the possibility of biological warfare, is back in the news with probably this incident being the first case to be reported from the State. Parts of Chittoor district are said to be endemic to the disease and outbreak of varying intensities is being reported every year.

Most of the 27 families in Ayyanagaripalle rear either cattle or sheep. The attack first started in a cow that was purchased from a weekly shandy, which got transmitted to the sheep. Though the villagers claimed that 63 sheep died, official records put the figure at 57.

The department officials, led by the Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, D.Venkateswarlu, rushed to the village today along with a team of doctors to get first hand information, where they found no carcasses, which raised suspicion that they could have been sold off. Enquiries revealed that the affected farmer had made `distress sale' of the dead animals for a price of Rs.400-500, knowing well that they were infected.

The officials later disinfected the area with formaldehyde solution and insulated it from the surroundings to curb proliferation of the bacteria. Though the anthrax bacteria is susceptible to normal disinfectants, it survives in anaerobic conditions once it becomes a spore after reacting with air.

Dr. Venkateswarlu told The Hindu that the improper disposal of the affected carcasses would lead to the release of millions of `anthrax bacillus' bacteria into the environment, which become spores that live on the land, in water and air for over 50 years, holding a great threat to cattle.

Though vaccinating once in six months for a period of three to four years could almost eradicate the disease from the affected areas, it was not to be with the rearers not too eager to get the animals vaccinated. Apart from their ignorance and indifference, the main reason identified is that the milk output falls marginally for a couple of days after the animal getting the shot. The rearers even get prepared to risk the lives of the cattle but do not want to lose the output just for a day or two.

A similar attack was reported from Vedurukuppam mandal last year too in which even human beings were affected. Some persons who slaughtered and consumed the infected meat had got some lesions on the face and body. Constant appeals by the officials that burying the infected carcasses deep into the soil alone could stop the spread of the deadly disease fell on deaf ears of the villagers, who consume the remains of the affected carcasses and sell off the hide and even bones which, needless to say, are infected.

A suggestion made by an official to prevent the disease's spread was to empower the village sarpanches to pay the affected rearer the price for the infected carcass and retain it to be disposed of safely. By this, coupled with timely vaccination, one could ensure the withering off of the spores with no animal to carry them, and subsequently, elimination of the disease.

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