Anthrax hits Chittoor again

CHITTOOR: After a lull of three years, the outbreak of Anthrax disease in four mandals in the district is panicking people and driving the officials into tizzy.The disease first came to the light on July 25, when Doraswamy (58),a resident of Musalimadugu village in Palamaner mandal  was detected positive at Palamaner hospital. Later the doctors at the hospital also confirmed eight cases of Anthrax from the same village.According to the information, four of them were shifted to Tirupati SVRR hospital while the other four were referred to CMC hospital, Vellore.Meanwhile, medical and health officials here confirmed three more cases in Yadireddypalle Gollapalli village in Yadamarri mandal. They developed the disease after they ate the meat of a dead wild boar. Similaryly, four cases of Anthrax from Vasanthapuram village in Gudipala mandal were tested positive and doctors said they took beef in recent days. According to sources, five people who fell ill after they took goat meat during a Jathara in Kurmaipalle in Bagarupalem mandal few months back. They were first admitted in KGF hospital and later, shifted to a private hospital in Bengaluru. They were suspected to be affected by Anthrax. The officials are in jitters with the resurgence of Anthrax after a gap of three years.