In China's eastern Shandong province, an outbreak of anthrax led to the closure of a beef cattle farm after five individuals were found infected. The disease control and prevention centre in Yanggu county, Shandong, announced via WeChat that all livestock on the affected farm were culled. The statement detailed that five farm workers who had direct contact with the infected animals were diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax and are currently receiving treatment in isolation.
The centre emphasized that 'Cutaneous anthrax is a zoonotic infectious disease that is preventable, controllable, and treatable, with rare transmission between humans.' Anthrax, a bacteria naturally present in soil, typically affects animals that come into contact with spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. This disease predominantly affects susceptible herbivores like cattle, mules, sheep, horses, and donkeys. Notably, anthrax is not contagious, and humans can only contract the disease through ingestion of the bacteria.
