China reports Five human cases of skin anthrax

Cases found at a beef cattle farm in Yanggu county in eastern Shandong province

China on Friday detected five human cases of cutaneous anthrax, which is mostly found in animals, state media reported.

The cases were detected after five farm workers came in direct contact with infected animals at a beef cattle farm in Yanggu county in eastern Shandong province.

Those infected have “mild symptoms” and are being treated and kept in isolation.

Health authorities have kept the close contacts under strict monitoring.

Cutaneous anthrax is a type of anthrax infection that affects the skin. It is one of the most common forms of anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The infection usually occurs when anthrax spores come into direct contact with cuts or abrasions on the skin

Dubbed as a serious disease, people usually get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are four types of anthrax.

“Cutaneous anthrax happens when anthrax spores get into a cut or scape on the skin when a person handles infected animals or contaminated animal products like wool, hides, or hair. It mostly shows up on the head, neck, forearms, and hands,” the CDC says on its website.