Epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of anthrax in Gongliu County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
GUO Rong1, GAO Zhenguo2, LIU Yan2, WANG Rong2, ZHANG Ling2, Mahemuti2, LIU Wanli2, LIU Lunguang3
1. Department of Laboratory Administration, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Urumqi, Xinjiang 830002, China; 2. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830002, China; 3. Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
Abstract：A suspected case of cutaneous anthrax was reported by Gongliu County Disease Control and Prevention Center, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on August 19, 2021. Then, an epidemiological survey was performed by a joint investigation team consisting of professionals from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, intermediate-level trainees from the Field Epidemiology Training Program of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and professionals from Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 11 cutaneous anthrax cases were identified, including 8 suspected cases and 3 clinically diagnosed cases, and all cases were villagers in Y Village, X Township, Gongliu County, without severe case or deaths found. The onset of the first case occurred on July 27, and the onset of the last case occurred on August 16. The main clinical manifestations included ulcerative eschar on hands and exposed skin of the upper extremity. A Bacillus anthracis isolate was detected in meat samples from infected cattle. Epidemiological surveys showed that villagers did not report infected cattle to related sectors and privately slaughtered and ate meat from infected cattle without any effective protective measures, resulting in this outbreak. It is recommended to strengthen health education for people raising, selling and slaughtering livestock, and publicize zoonotic disease control knowledge, including anthrax, and establish an effective surveillance and response system for anthrax for immediate identification and treatment of epidemics.
