New Delhi, 02 May 2025: Thailand has reported its first anthrax-related fatality in over 30 years, following the death of a 53-year-old man in Mukdahan province. The incident has prompted a nationwide public health alert and the implementation of containment measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
The deceased, a resident of Don Tan district in northeastern Thailand near the Laos border, reportedly contracted anthrax after slaughtering a cow and consuming its raw meat during a local religious festival. He developed symptoms including a lesion on his right hand, swollen lymph nodes, and eventually succumbed to the infection on April 30.
Health authorities have confirmed a second anthrax case in the same district, involving a close associate of the deceased who also participated in the slaughter and consumption of the contaminated meat. This individual is currently receiving treatment and is expected to recover.
Investigations have identified 638 individuals potentially exposed to the bacterium, including 36 who were involved in butchering the animal and 472 who consumed the raw or undercooked beef. All exposed individuals are undergoing a seven-day course of doxycycline as a preventive measure.
Containment Measures
In response to the outbreak, the Department of Livestock Development has implemented several containment strategies:
- Establishment of a 5-kilometer quarantine zone around the infection site.
- Vaccination plans for approximately 1,200 cattle in the affected area.
- Disinfection of slaughter sites and monitoring of livestock health.
- Prohibition of animal movement into or out of the quarantine zone.
- Public advisories against the consumption of raw or undercooked meat.
No animals in the area have shown signs of illness or unexplained death, but authorities are maintaining heightened surveillance to prevent further cases.
This incident marks Thailand’s first anthrax death since 1994, when three fatalities were recorded. The country last reported human anthrax cases in 2017, with two infections and no deaths.
Neighboring countries have also experienced recent outbreaks. Laos reported 129 anthrax infections last year, including one death, while Vietnam confirmed 13 cases in May 2023.
