Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 23) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday confirmed that some carabaos in Cagayan province have been infected with anthrax, a disease transmissible from animals to humans, and that dozens of people have been exposed, with some now isolated after manifesting skin lesions.
According to Dr. Manuel Galang Jr., a veterinarian at the DA, anthrax typically affects ruminants such as carabaos, cows, sheep, and goats. Symptoms among animals include sudden death, breathing difficulty, fever, seizures, heart complications, bleeding, and postmortem lesions.
Galang said humans can also get the disease from infected animals through skin contact, digestion, or inhalation.
The DA reported that two of the four infected carabaos in Cagayan were slaughtered and sold, with the contaminated meat also reaching Barangay Annafatan in Amulung town.
“Paltos o bukol na nangangati, skin sore sa mukha, leeg, braso at mga kamay, lagnat, chills, pagkahilo, sakit ng ulo, pananakit ng katawan, sore throat, pamamaga ng leeg o glands, pananakit ng tiyan, pagsusuka, diarrhea at iba pa ang mga sintomas ng human infection,” he explained.
[Translation: Blisters or itchy bumps, skin sore on the face, neck, arms, and hands, fever, chills, dizziness, headache, body aches, sore throat, swelling of the neck or glands, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, and others are among the symptoms of human infection.]
The veterinarian said anthrax cases may be prevented through vaccination and immediate disposal of contaminated animals’ dead bodies through burning or deep burial.
Those already infected should also promptly seek medical intervention, including use of prescribed antibiotics, Galang added.
Meanwhile, the DA urged the public to stay cautious and responsible in raising animals and to immediately report to authorities if they observe any symptoms of anthrax.
It also said authorities conducted an anthrax vaccination program on animals-at-risk in affected areas last Dec. 16, and are currently implementing an information dissemination campaign on the disease.
The DA regional field office in Cagayan Valley made the announcement after local authorities confirmed on Dec. 16 that around four carabaos in Barangay Calassitan, Sto. Niño town died due to the disease.
In a statement Friday evening, the Department of Health (DOH) said only three carabaos out of 12 total suspect cases reported as of Dec. 22 tested positive for anthrax after further verification.
Upon verification with the regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, the DOH confirmed that there were 125 people who consumed the meat of two “sick and dying” carabaos.
Among them, 26 showed signs and symptoms of human infection of anthrax and were provided medication. The DOH added that all of the cases have been tagged as recovered as of Dec. 22.
The DOH said the Inter-Agency on Environmental Health (IACEH) is overseeing the situation and coordinating with the concerned government agencies.
The department also reiterated that the event is due to exposure to infected animals and not connected to any act of terrorism.
