17 People in Gunungkidul Suspected of Contracting Anthrax after Eating Goat Meat from Sleman
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13 March 2024 10:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least 17 residents of Kayoman Hamlet, Serut Village, Gedangsari, Gunungkidul Regency, are suspected to have been exposed to anthrax after eating the chevon or meat from goats slaughtered in Sleman, Bahan Istimewa Yogyakarta. The Gunungkidul District Health Office has screened 53 people in Kayoman to prevent the spread of suspected anthrax cases in the area.
Gunungkidul Health Office acting chief Dewi Irawaty said on Monday that 17 of the 53 residents tested had their blood samples taken because they had interacted with livestock suspected of being infected with anthrax. The samples were sent to the Yogyakarta Center for Environmental Health Engineering and Disease Control (BBTKLPP).
These 17 residents, she added, were showing symptoms suspected of being anthrax. Two people were admitted to the hospital.
"Health officials have taken quick measures to prevent the spread of anthrax to residents," she said.
The head of Gunungkidul's Department of Livestock and Animal Health (DPKH), Wibawanti Wulandari, said the incident began when a resident of Kayoman hamlet brought home several goats that had been slaughtered in Sleman on Feb. 24.
The goats were skinned and the meat eaten in Kayoman. Shortly after, two goats and a cow belonging to the resident died. The two goats were slaughtered but not eaten. The cow was buried immediately.
A while later, the resident in question fell ill. "We still don't know if he bought the goats he took home from Sleman or if they were given to him," he said.
As a precaution and to prevent further spread, Wibawanti said the DPKH had sprayed formalin on the areas where the animals suspected of being infected with anthrax were skinned and buried.
ANTARA
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