Bangladesh: 585 people contracted anthrax since August
Bangladesh's government says anthrax has spread in the country, with some 585 people contracting the disease since late August. The government's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research released the figures Monday, reporting cases of anthrax in 12 of the country's 64 districts. So far, none of the victims have died and none are seriously ill.
While anthrax is not new to Bangladesh, there's no record of it spreading so widely. The institute said that initially, 38 villagers were sickened by the bacterial disease in northern Sirajganj district after infected cows were slaughtered. Humans typically get anthrax from touching infected animals or animal products. Human infections are potentially fatal. (AP)
