The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research on Sunday collected samples from people showing anthrax-like symptoms at Pirgachha upazila in Rangpur and began contact tracing.
The move came after two people died with symptoms consistent with anthrax, while the Department of Livestock confirmed the disease in cattle earlier.
IEDCR officials said that it would take three to four days to get test results once the collected samples were examined in Dhaka.
On Sunday morning, the IEDCR team started sample collection in the Mital area of Pirgachha and later visited the home of Abdur Razzak, one of the deceased, to gather information about his illness and death.
The team also interviewed suspected patients across the upazila throughout the day.
鈥榃e are visiting the households with suspected cases, collecting both biological samples and relevant background data. After laboratory testing at the IEDCR, we can confirm whether it is anthrax or not,鈥� said Md Abdullah, medical officer at the IEDCR and head of the visiting team.
Concern mounted after the Department of Livestock confirmed anthrax in cattle on August 31 through laboratory testing.
Mass vaccination began on September 2, according to the Pirgachha upazila livestock office.
鈥楢bout 35,000 cattle have so far been vaccinated and nine vaccination camps are now in operation,鈥� said upazila livestock officer Ekramul Hoque Mondol, adding that several cattle had already died of the disease.
Local people, however, said that dozens of cattle had died with similar symptoms, many of which went unreported.
Out of fear, villagers have also begun selling their cattle at throwaway prices.
Officials acknowledged that the situation had been worsening for weeks.
Over the past two months, more than 200 people have reportedly shown anthrax-like symptoms, while nearly 1,000 cattle have died in the region.
The health and livestock departments are now working jointly to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
Meanwhile, fisheries and livestock adviser Farida Akhter, speaking at an event in Rangpur on Sunday, stressed the seriousness of zoonotic diseases 鈥� those transmitted from animals to humans.
鈥榃e are taking necessary steps to prevent further transmission from livestock to humans. The government, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation under the One Health initiative, is working to protect both human and animal health,鈥� she said.