Anthrax cases detected in southern Kazakhstan

Anthrax cases have been found in southern Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Telegraph Agency reported Wednesday, citing an announcement from the Emergency Ministry.

Nine people from three villages in the state of South Kazakhstan, who had been found to have typical symptoms of anthrax, had been taken to hospital for treatment, the reports said.

Two of them have been confirmed to have been infected with anthrax through the skin.

All the people who displayed anthrax symptoms had taken part in the slaughter of animals, and the meat had been distributed among their relatives.

More than 460 people who have had close contacts with the infected people were under medical observation, the Interfax news agency reported.

Authorities have disinfected the remainder of the meat and placed quarantines on the villages where the infected people were living.

Anthrax is a disease caused by spore-forming bacteria. It can be transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated animal substances such as hair, feces or hides and is characterized by a high fever.

Source: Xinhua