Thailand has recorded its first anthrax-related death in over three decades, sparking a public health alert as authorities scramble to contain the spread of the deadly bacteria.

According to Reuters, a 53-year-old man from Mukdahan province, located in northeastern Thailand near the Laos border, succumbed to the disease on Wednesday, marking the country’s first anthrax fatality since 1994.

A second confirmed case and three suspected cases in the same province have heightened concerns, with hundreds potentially exposed to the bacteria.

Health officials have identified at least 638 individuals who may have been exposed to anthrax, primarily through the consumption of raw or undercooked beef.

Of those, 36 were involved in butchering livestock, a high-risk activity for anthrax transmission.

The health ministry has initiated containment measures, including administering antibiotics to all potentially exposed individuals.

“All individuals who may have been in contact with infected meat are being monitored,” the ministry stated, emphasizing proactive surveillance to prevent further infections.

The Livestock Department has established a 5-kilometer (3.2-mile) quarantine zone around the infection site to curb the spread of the bacteria.

While no cattle have shown signs of illness or unexplained deaths, authorities plan to vaccinate 1,222 animals in the affected area as a precautionary measure. The agriculture ministry is overseeing these efforts, working closely with health officials to ensure a coordinated response.

Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is a rare but serious illness typically transmitted through contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated meat.

Unlike many infectious diseases, anthrax does not spread from person to person, which limits its potential for widespread outbreaks but does not diminish its severity.

Symptoms can range from skin lesions to severe respiratory or gastrointestinal issues, with untreated cases often proving fatal.

Thailand’s last reported human anthrax cases occurred in 2017, with two non-fatal infections, and in 2000, when 15 cases were recorded, also without deaths.

The current outbreak follows a regional uptick in anthrax cases, with neighboring Laos reporting 129 infections and one death last year, and Vietnam confirming 13 cases in May 2023.

Thai authorities are intensifying surveillance along border areas to identify and contain potential sources of the infection.

The Thai government is actively investigating the source of the anthrax outbreak, with a focus on livestock and meat supply chains.

Heightened surveillance measures are in place, particularly in border regions, to prevent further cases.

Public health officials are urging residents to avoid consuming raw or undercooked meat and to report any suspicious symptoms immediately.

As Thailand grapples with this rare but alarming outbreak, the government’s swift response and robust containment measures aim to prevent further loss of life and restore public confidence in the safety of the food supply.