ANTHRAX, a seasonal infectious disease that passes from animals to humans, continues to re-emerge in Bangladesh during the monsoon months, when heavy rains following long dry spells create favourable conditions for dormant spores to reactivate in the soil. Caused by a hardy, soil-borne bacterium that can survive for decades, anthrax infects grazing livestock and, through them, humans. Field investigations in Bangladesh have previously detected anthrax spores in about 12 per cent of soil samples collected between May and November, but none in the dry months from December to April, a reminder that when the rains return, so too can this ancient but preventable disease.
In early October 2025, a joint team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research and the Department of Livestock Services investigated an outbreak in Rangpur鈥檚 upazilas of Pirgachha, Mithapukur and Kaunia, where several human anthrax cases were confirmed. The outbreak was traced to the slaughter of sick cattle and the sale of contaminated meat in local markets. Although all patients recovered, the incident exposed long-standing weaknesses in livestock vaccination, meat inspection and carcass disposal.
This is not the first time Bangladesh has faced such a challenge. During 2009 and 2010, national surveillance documented over 140 animal and 273 human anthrax cases, mostly in northern districts such as Sirajganj, Pabna and Rajshahi. Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research data show that anthrax continues to surface intermittently: from January to September 2022, sentinel sites recorded 431 suspected human cutaneous anthrax cases, of which 57 were laboratory-confirmed, the majority from Gangni Upazila in Meherpur.
Northern Bangladesh鈥檚 dry, flood-prone soils allow anthrax spores to persist for years. Vaccination programmes, though revitalised in 2025, had lapsed earlier, leaving cattle herds unprotected. Informal slaughtering of visibly ill animals remains common, and contaminated meat has even been found after freezing or storage, as spores can withstand cold, dryness and many disinfectants.
A key line of defence is livestock vaccination, yet coverage remains inadequate. One study found that only about 44 per cent of cattle in affected areas were vaccinated, far below the 80 per cent needed to prevent transmission. The ongoing Department of Livestock Services campaign aims to immunise millions of animals across Rangpur and Gaibandha while raising community awareness through yard meetings, mosque announcements and coordination with local governments. These efforts must be continued annually, not just during emergencies, if we are to break the cycle of outbreaks.
Awareness of symptoms is equally important. In animals, anthrax often causes sudden death, swelling around the neck or chest, and dark, unclotted bleeding from the nose or mouth. Such carcasses should never be butchered or opened; they must be burned or buried deeply under veterinary supervision. In humans, infection usually occurs through handling contaminated meat or animal hides, leading to cutaneous anthrax, painless sores with black centres on the hands, arms or face. Other forms include gastrointestinal anthrax, contracted from eating infected meat, which causes severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, and the rare inhalational anthrax, associated with industrial exposure to contaminated animal products. The good news is that anthrax is both preventable and curable. Antibiotic treatment is highly effective when started early, and timely medical attention can prevent complications and save lives.
Unlike influenza or Covid-19, anthrax does not spread from person to person. Instead, it moves from infected animals or contaminated animal products to humans. This is why Bangladesh鈥檚 response must follow a 鈥榦ne health鈥� approach, bringing together animal, human and environmental sectors. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research and Department of Livestock Services are already applying this model by integrating veterinary surveillance with human health reporting, enforcing meat market inspections and mapping burial sites of infected animals to prevent future exposure.
Every citizen has a role in prevention. Farmers must vaccinate their cattle annually and avoid slaughtering sick or suddenly dead animals. Butchers should handle only inspected meat and wear protective gloves, while consumers should buy from certified sources and avoid contact with raw meat if they have open cuts. Communities should promptly alert veterinarians or local authorities to sudden livestock deaths.
This outbreak is not just a local issue, it is a test of the country鈥檚 readiness to tackle zoonotic diseases. Public health begins in our farms and markets, where animal, food and human health are inseparably linked. With consistent vaccination, community vigilance and coordinated One Health action, Bangladesh can keep its farms safe and its people healthy.
Ultimately, this outbreak reinforces an enduring truth: awareness, not fear, is our best protection, because prevention is always better than cure.
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Dr Ridwana Maher Manna is a physician.