Mukdahan Province authorities have placed Don Tan District under anthrax surveillance following the death of a resident who had contact with livestock and consumed beef. The announcement, made on 30 April 2025, comes after a man from Lao Mi Subdistrict died from a suspected anthrax infection. The individual had developed fever and skin rashes after interacting with cows and buffaloes and was admitted to Don Tan Hospital on 27 April before being transferred to Mukdahan Hospital, where he later passed away.
To contain the potential spread of anthrax, Don Tan District has instituted several control measures, including the establishment of animal movement checkpoints at Ban Pa Phayom, Ban Na Huai Kok, Ban Phu Wong, and in front of Pa Rai Police Station. The measures, effective from 1 May 2025, aim to prevent the transportation of cows, buffaloes, and goats in and out of the district.
Health authorities have opened disease prevention and control centers to facilitate anthrax testing for local residents. These centers include Leu Mi Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital and the Community Hall at Ban Leu Mi, Village No. 1. Village health volunteers have also been tasked with surveying populations in risk areas and reporting findings to the Ministry of Public Health’s monitoring system.
The Don Tan District Livestock Office will oversee inspections of livestock for signs of infection, including symptoms such as high fever, lack of appetite, bloody saliva, labored breathing, and muscle tremors. Residents have been advised to report animals displaying these symptoms immediately. Vaccination efforts targeting cattle, buffalo, and goats will be conducted in areas of concern, and a temporary prohibition on slaughtering or dissecting vaccinated animals will remain in effect for 21 days following immunization.
Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted from livestock such as cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep to humans through direct contact, consumption of infected meat — particularly raw meat — or inhalation of spores.
Local officials, including Mr. Chakkrit Chomchan, Don Tan District Chief, discussed these measures during a meeting with government agency heads, village chiefs, and subdistrict leaders to coordinate efforts in public health communication and livestock monitoring.
