A Case of Anthrax Has Been Recorded in Ukraine. The Outbreak Has Been Localized, and There Is No Risk of the Infection Spreading

Five people who participated in the slaughter of livestock in the village of Miniaylivka, Odesa region, have been hospitalized with specific symptoms of a skin disease. According to the results of laboratory tests conducted by the reference laboratory of the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, one patient was confirmed to have anthrax (the cutaneous form, which is treated with antibiotics and does not pose the same level of danger as the pulmonary form). A positive test result was also obtained from the meat of the slaughtered animal and the soil in the yard where the sick animal was slaughtered.

The situation is under the control of local authorities. Specialists from the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection and the regional laboratory center are carrying out the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the disease in accordance with the requirements of Order No. 314 of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated July 9, 2003, “On Measures to Prevent Anthrax” and Order No. 4 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy dated January 25, 2000, “Instructions on Measures to Prevent and Combat Anthrax in Animals.” The disease has been localized within one village — quarantine was introduced on September 30, 2018. Medical professionals are examining people who had contact with infected animals or consumed meat from the slaughtered livestock.

Medical professionals will monitor the health of the village residents for 15 days: daily visits to households are being conducted to monitor the health of people who may potentially become infected with the anthrax pathogen. Individuals who were at risk of infection with the anthrax pathogen are prescribed urgent antibiotic prophylaxis and are placed under medical observation.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

It is an acute infectious disease affecting animals and humans, which occurs predominantly in the cutaneous form and much less frequently in pulmonary and intestinal forms with manifestations of sepsis.

PREVALENCE OF ANTHRAX

Anthrax is present in most parts of the world, but the frequency of outbreaks varies.

Anthrax bacterial spores can remain dormant in soil for long periods of time and become active when the soil surface is disturbed, for example, as a result of flooding, heavy rainfall, or landslides. The disease usually reappears when the spores subsequently enter an animal’s stomach with grass from pastures.

Currently, the incidence is only sporadic, occurring occasionally and in isolated outbreaks.

Cases of anthrax registered in Ukraine in previous years:

2003 – Kharkiv region – 1 case;
2004 – Chernivtsi region – 3 cases;
2008 – Mykolaiv region – 1 case;
2012 – Cherkasy region – 1 case.

SOURCES OF INFECTION AND ROUTES OF TRANSMISSION OF ANTHRAX

This infection belongs to the group of zoonoses — meaning that humans become infected either from an infected animal or through contact with its skin and wool.

The main source of infection is sick domestic herbivorous animals: cattle and small ruminants. Animals become infected by eating grass and other feed or through drinking water.

Anthrax most often affects people who work with animals and animal products — bones, wool, hides, and meat.

Anthrax is not transmitted from person to person.

Routes of infection transmission:

contact — through damaged skin (even with microtraumas) or mucous membranes when caring for sick animals; during carcass processing, skinning, and burial of dead animals; through soil contaminated with anthrax spores during earthworks;
alimentary — through the preparation and consumption of food made from meat obtained from sick animals;
airborne (air-dust) — through inhalation of spores;
vector-borne — through insect bites (horseflies, flies, mosquitoes).

SYMPTOMS OF ANTHRAX

The average duration of the incubation period is 2–3 days, but it can range from several hours to 8–14 days.

The infection enters the body through the skin, the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, and, less frequently, the intestinal mucous membranes. Therefore, there are three forms of anthrax: cutaneous, pulmonary, and intestinal.

The disease begins acutely: during the first hours, body temperature rises sharply to 38–40 °C and weakness develops. Blood infection (sepsis) can develop with any route of infection.

Signs of anthrax:

severe headache;
high fever;
general malaise;
a carbuncle with rapidly increasing swelling and itching (in the cutaneous form);
severe stabbing chest pain (in the pulmonary form);
shortness of breath (in the pulmonary form);
diarrhea with blood (in the intestinal form);
sharp abdominal pain (in the intestinal form);
vomiting with blood (in the intestinal form).

If treatment is started in a timely manner, patients recover. In rare cases, the disease may be complicated by intestinal, pulmonary, or septic forms. The disease can be severe and may lead to the patient’s death.

At the slightest suspicion of anthrax, seek medical attention immediately!

TREATMENT OF ANTHRAX

Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital setting. Anthrax pathogens are sensitive to antibiotics. Do not attempt to use antibiotics or any other medications for self-treatment or prevention without consulting a doctor.

At the slightest suspicion of infection with any form of anthrax, immediate hospitalization is required!

PREVENTION OF ANTHRAX INFECTION

purchase meat and meat products only from places where product quality is controlled;
people who process and sell meat, meat products, or any animal-derived raw materials must comply with hygiene standards in order to protect themselves and others;
comply with veterinary and sanitary rules when caring for animals;
slaughter domestic livestock only with the permission of veterinary specialists;
ensure the proper burial of animal carcasses;
ensure veterinary control of fur and hide raw materials;
monitor animal morbidity;
destroy infected animal carcasses;
vaccinate animals against anthrax;
persons who have had contact with sick animals or raw materials obtained from sick animals should receive emergency antibiotic prophylaxis.