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Anthrax Suspect Patients are Recovering
Sungguminasa - The health condition of anthrax suspect patients in Maccini Dalle subvillage, Moncongloe village, Gowa district, South Sulawesi, are gradually improving. But until Thursday (11/6), testing of blood samples at the South Sulawesi Health Center Laboratory still hasn’t finished therefore the patients are still as suspects. Head of the Mamuju Community Health Center, Herni Hamid, said the condition of the 11 anthrax suspect patients have improved after treated at the center. “They initially suffered from body-aches, diarrhea, and fever. After we gave them medications, their conditions have improved,” said Herni.
Eleven citizens of Maccini Dalle subvillage, Moncongloe village, Gowa district, South Sulawesi suffered from fever, nausea, and itches and were suspected of anthrax. At that village, 19 animals that had suddenly died were confirmed infected with anthrax (Kompas 11/6).
Several citizens of Maccini Dalle on Thursday said that meat from a horse positive with anthrax was consumed by hundreds of citizens on June 3. At that time, Daeng Kila’s horse, which was dying was slaughtered and its offal were given out to citizens of Maccini Dalle. Its meat was sold at Sungguminasa, Gowa district.
A Maccini Dalle citizen named Daeng Senga (45) said his family also received parts of Daeng Kila’s horse. “We cooked the meat into karunrung. Many people ate it. I and my whole family also ate it, except for my youngest child. But we are all healthy,” said Daeng Senga. He did not become an anthrax suspect.
Surveillance officer of Manuju Community Health Center, Adwiyah, said they have identified 105 families that received parts of the horse. “A lot of people consumed the horse, around 150 people. All have been identified and are put under monitoring,” said Adwiyah.
Adwiyah explained that they have gathered all citizens of Maccini Dalle subvillage. “We have given a detailed explanation on the clinical signs of anthrax infection in human. Everybody suspected to have been exposed to anthrax had been treated, including the 11 anthrax suspects who did consume meat from the anthrax-positive horse,” said Herni.
Moncongloe Village Secretary, Yusuf Daeng Tinri, explained that 19 animals had fell ill or suddenly died since March 2009. The first case occurred on March 19 when a cow had died. In April and May, cattle, horses, and water buffalos had died. The last case was a dead horse on May 30.
Head of the Public Relations Section of Gowa district government, Arifuddin Saeni, said that technical institutions are also monitoring animal slaughter, such as cattle, horses, and water buffalos for wedding feasts in the villages. The provision of meat for wedding events through personal slaughter is suspected to have gone unmonitored. (ROW/NAR)
Source : Kompas