Anthrax outbreak: Two more blue bulls die, count reaches 14

Wildlife official says treatment is now out of question.

PESHAWAR:

Two more blue bulls in the Tanda Dam Wildlife Park in Kohat died of anthrax, taking the death toll to 14 animals in the past two weeks.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a wildlife department official said owing to the possibility of panic and fear among the locals, the department has decided to call the disease a flu instead of anthrax.

12 blue bulls were killed by anthrax on March 19.



“We have received strict instructions that no dead animal will be taken out of the fencing. It will be buried within the fenced area as a precautionary measure to avoid the disease from spreading,” he said adding the livestock department was even avoiding autopsy of the animals.

“Around 14 animals are dead and more could die,” he said, adding, “Treatment is now out of the question.”

When contacted, a livestock department official said anthrax was curable and can be prevented from spreading.

“The wildlife department should have vaccinate the animals after the 2006 anthrax attack.”

“We have told them to bury the corpses of the animals inside the fence to avoid unnecessary risk,” he added.

The official, however, avoided commenting on the nature of the disease which has killed 14 animals  until now.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2014.