The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) has launched an emergency and coordinated program to curb the spread of anthrax among cattle in several districts. The initiative was undertaken following reports of anthrax outbreaks in livestock across parts of the country.
Anthrax is a bacterial zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. To prevent further transmission, local livestock offices, in coordination with local administrations, have intensified vaccination drives, animal health check-ups, courtyard meetings, road campaigns, leaflet distribution, and loudspeaker announcements.
The DLS has also published awareness advertisements in national newspapers and strengthened local outreach campaigns with the support of local authorities. Special initiatives have been introduced to monitor affected areas, prevent the slaughter of sick animals, and ensure that every farm animal receives vaccination.
Under the “One Health” program, the DLS is coordinating with local health departments to raise public awareness. Officials are conducting regular courtyard meetings and training workshops to educate the public about preventive measures. People are being urged not to slaughter sick animals, not to dispose of dead livestock in open areas or water bodies, but to bury them deeply instead. They are also advised to contact nearby veterinary hospitals or livestock offices promptly in case of any animal-related illness.
Rangpur and Gaibandha districts have been identified as anthrax-prone areas, where special vaccination programs are being implemented. The Livestock Research Institute (LRI) is set to supply around three million anthrax vaccine doses to the Rangpur division, of which two million will be distributed in Rangpur and Gaibandha districts alone.
In Rangpur district, vaccination efforts have already covered nine upazilas: Pirgacha (53,400), Kaunia (34,000), Rangpur Sadar (26,500), Mithapukur (34,500), Gangachara (4,800), Taraganj (4,300), Badarganj (5,000), and Pirganj (5,000), totaling 167,000 cattle vaccinated so far. Additionally, courtyard meetings, road campaigns, and training sessions have been conducted. Thirty-six medical teams have been formed to conduct health inspections at the district’s 36 slaughterhouses, while 32 mobile veterinary teams have been deployed to vaccinate cattle against anthrax.
In Gaibandha district’s Sundarganj upazila, vaccination has been completed for 26,400 cattle. Preventive measures in the affected areas have included burying dead livestock, conducting vaccination drives, loudspeaker announcements, courtyard meetings, and leaflet distribution. Local authorities have also conducted mobile court operations, imposing fines totaling Tk 15,000, while five veterinary medical teams have been formed for ongoing disease control efforts.
