Bangladesh to vaccinate 3mn cattle in Rangpur Division amid anthrax concerns

The vaccines are provided by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute

Three million cattle will be vaccinated across different districts in the Rangpur Division as a part of efforts to prevent the spread of anthrax.

Of these, two million doses will be administered in Rangpur and Gaibandha districts, with the vaccines supplied by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock shared the information in a media statement on Sunday.

On Monday, residents of Sundarganj Upazila in Gaibandha slaughtered a diseased cow and consumed its meat.

Upazila Health Officer Dibakar Basak said on Saturday that 11 people were later found infected with anthrax.

Earlier, nine cases were reported in Pirgachha, Mithapukur, and Kaunia Upazilas of Rangpur.

A statement from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on Sunday said 167,000 cows have already been vaccinated against anthrax in nine Upazilas of Rangpur district.

Awareness campaigns have also been held. To examine cattle at slaughterhouses across the district, 36 medical teams have been formed.

The ministry says 26,400 cows have been vaccinated in Sundarganj until now.

As a rapid preventive measure, burying of infected cows, vaccination, announcements, yard meetings, and leaflet distribution activities have been carried out.

Five veterinary medical teams have been formed with the help of the local administration, the statement added.