Animal emergency: Anthrax kills 12 blue bulls

Official says they proposed vaccination when virus surfaced in 2006 but no one paid heed to it.

PESHAWAR: At least 12 blue bulls (Nilgai) kept at Tanda Dam Wildlife Park in Kohat have died of anthrax infection while many more are infected, an official of the wildlife department told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

He said there are around 35 blue bulls in the park. A team of doctors visited the site to investigate the cause of the mysterious deaths and confirmed that it was an anthrax attack.

The infection is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and mostly affects domesticated mammals or farm animals that inhale the spores of the bacteria through grazing. The disease is lethal and can spread to humans and other animals if the spores are in any way transported.

The official said they had been asked by the doctors to stay away from the animals since it can be transmitted to humans and there is little hope of treatment. He added this was the second attack of its kind in the region. In early 2006, an anthrax infection claimed the lives of at least a dozen animals.

“The problem is the location of the park as every Sunday thousands of people visit this area because it is a famous picnic spot,” he explained, suggesting there should be a complete ban on people visiting the park to avoid spreading of the infection.

No high ranking wildlife official was available for comments. An official of the livestock department, however, told The Express Tribune the infection was highly fatal and could claim more lives.

“When the last epidemic was recorded in the same park, we recommended a biannual vaccination against the disease which we prepared in our labs at nominal charges, but no one paid heed to it,” he said, adding a team of veterinary doctors visited the park but are yet to submit a report.

“Until this is over, I will recommend that the park should be completely shut down for general public and as we cannot rule out a second anthrax attack. Every possible precautionary measure should be adopted,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2014.