5 more feared infected with anthrax in Kushtia
Suspected patient hospitalised in Panchagarh
At least five more people were feared infected with anthrax in Kushtia yesterday, while a man was hospitalised with anthrax symptoms in Panchagarh on Friday night.
With yesterday's five, the total number of infected people rose to 42 in Daulatpur upazila of Kustia, reports our correspondent.
Earlier, on Thursday, 21 people contacted anthrax at the same Bilgathua village and on the day before 16 were attacked with the disease first at Dharmadaha village.
All the patients are now undergoing treatment at upazila health complex and home.
Doctors at the health complex said they are still waiting for experts' opinion on the blood and skin samples sent to the capita city.
Jatindra Chandra Roy, civil surgeon of Kushtia said, "We are actually hospitalising people just on the basis symptoms of the disease and giving them initial treatment".
According to upazila health complex sources, most of the patients prefer to take treatment at their home to avoid 'embarrassment'.
"Our medical teams have opened camps at villages and are giving treatment to the suspected patients," Dr. Saleh Ahmed, upazila medical officer, Daulatpur said.
According to the villagers, a few cattleheads at Dharmadaha and adjacent villages of Bilgathua and Krishnapur caught an 'unknown' disease 10-15 days ago. Villagers slaughtered those and consumed the meat.
In Pachagarh, a suspected anthrax patient at bordering village Birpara under Sadar upazila was admitted to Panchagarh Sadar Hospital on Friday night, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.
Resident Medical Officer at Panchagarh Sadar Hospital Baharam Ali told this correspondent that Shahidul Islam, 40, might have been infected with anthrax.
For confirmation, we will send blood and skin samples to Dhaka for test, he said.
Shahidul Islam told reporters at the hospital that on 27 August he bought 30Kg Indian beef almost at half price for his daughter's wedding ceremony.
He himself cooked the meat and the next day several boils appeared in his hands and legs.
As they were developing fast I took treatment locally, Shahidul said.
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