Anthrax outbreak in northern Thailand: two confirmed cases, one death

According to local reports, two anthrax cases were confirmed in Mukda Han province in north-eastern Thailand, near the border with Laos. Other three suspected cases were reported in the area, and health authorities said that over 600 people were potentially exposed to the disease. One of the two confirmed cases, a man in his 50s, died on April 30. The Thai government has strengthened surveillance measures along the border with Laos and is investigating the cause of the outbreak. Infection happened through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Therefore, authorities advised residents of the affected area to avoid eating such products. The last anthrax case in Thailand was in 2017, but outbreaks of the disease are common in neighbouring Laos, with 129 cases and one death reported in 2024.
Anthrax is an infectious disease that can be caught by animals and humans. It has a fatality rate ranging from 5 to 20%. Skin anthrax manifests through skin itching and black skin ulcers. The disease can be treated relatively easily with antibiotics, but if left unattended, it can be life-threatening.