UNAIR NEWS – Anthrax is threatening the population again after there were some people in Yogyakarta infected at the same time.

Interviewed in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) Universitas Airlangga, Zoonosis expert, Dr. Mustofa Helmi Effendi, dr., DTAPH, said that anthrax is an infection transmitted through spores of Bacillus anthracis bacteria. The spores can be found on the surface of the ground.

“Anthrax transmission mostly comes from spores. Without significant spores, there will be no anthrax, so it can’t be transmitted between humans. There must be spores. These spores are the origins of human infection. We just need to find the location of spores, or which land has the spores,” said Helmi.

According to Helmi, anthrax infection to animals is indicated by bloody discharges from the natural body openings such as nails and eyes. But it can also be indicated by sudden death of cattles.

“There is a clinical symptom change, there is no bleeding but sudden death of the cattles. So, if there is sudden death, our priority suspect should be Anthrax,” he said.

Helmi encouraged the public to bury or burn right away the infected animals. He did not suggest them to dissect the remains because it can be the source of infectious disease.

Anthrax can be transmitted through skin contact, food and also inhalation. Most of the transmission is from skin (Cutaneous Anthrax). The people may have interacted with animals infected by Anthrax.

There were some cases of inhalation transmission. “The case of anthrax in Central Java was not only cutaneous type, but it was mostly from inhalation. From the lungs then spreading to the blood until anthrax bacteria was found in their spinal fluid,” explained Helmi.

The symptoms of human infected by anthrax can be seen from black rashes on their skin with nausea, dizziness and rising body temperature. If there is symptoms like those, the public are encouraged to go to the hospital to make sure of it and for treatment.

Nevertheless, anthrax can be dealt with some ways, people should be forbidden to dissect and consume sick animals and they should know the correct meat management.

“Also, obey the government regulation. Don’t take cattle from anthrax endemic regions. The best was to prevent anthrax is by preventing contacts and consumption of cattle from anthrax  endemic regions,” he said.

Author : Faridah Hari
Editor: Defrina Sukma S