Anthrax tragedy in Yogjakarta kills one, 85 infected

JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Local authorities in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta province reported on Tuesday that one person had been confirmed dead from anthrax infection while 85 others had been found to be infected after having consumed tainted meat.

Anthrax can be contracted by humans only if they come into contact with or consume the meat of animals that have been infected by the deadly and infectious disease.

At a press conference, Dewi Irawati, the Head of the Gunungkidul Regency Health Agency, announced that the spread of anthrax had been discovered in the regency.

This comes after a report was received from Sardjito Central General Hospital that a 73-year-old resident had passed away on June 4 due to the virus.

Further investigation into the case showed that the patient had consumed meat from a cow that had died from an illness.

Irawati stated that after the discovery, they learned that the patient had distributed the meat to a number of other residents around his neighbourhood.

The authorities have since carried out blood tests on 125 individuals and uncovered 85 infected individuals.

“Most of them have shown symptoms like diarrhoea, sores on the skin, and small reddish lumps or swelling appearing on their hands however. Fortunately, they are now undergoing antibiotics treatment,” said the official.

Since the finding, Irawati noted that the regional authorities had swiftly designated the nearby area a red zone for 120 days and urged the residents to only consume meat from healthy livestock.