Following the outbreak of anthrax in Laos, the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the public that the country was prepared for any possible anthrax outbreak, and gave additional assurance that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) can produce vaccines against the infectious disease. 

Thailand had earlier ordered a close watch on livestock after an anthrax outbreak in its neighboring Laos wherein at least 50 people reportedly contracted anthrax.

“Ang Bureau of Animal Industry ay may nakahandang anthrax vaccine, at importante lang na mabakunahan para ma-prevent ang pagkalat ng anthrax (The Bureau of Animal Industry has readily available anthrax vaccine, and what is important is to inoculate to stop its spread),” Dr. Constante “Dante” Palabrica, DA’s assistant secretary for livestock, said on Monday, April 1, during an ambush interview.

The BAI, according to him, has a “seed virus” that makes it possible for the Philippines to produce its own anthrax vaccine.

“Itong seed virus na ito ay Philippine seed virus so hindi ito nanggaling kung saan (This seed virus is Philippine seed virus so it did not come from anywhere else). We’re ready for that---the Department of Agriculture is ready,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DA official urged farmers to immediately report to provincial veterinarians suspected cases of anthrax infection as the government provides free testing.

He said that some of the signs that an animal is positive for anthrax are if it doesn’t want to eat, has a fever, and develops vesicles.

“Our government gives free tests on this, and actually the anthrax vaccine is given for free. Lahat nang ito ay (All of these are) subsidized by the DA’s budget,” said Palabrica.

Because anthrax can be transferred to humans as it is zoonotic in nature, he said anthrax can be fatal to people with comorbidity.

“Kailangan tawagan agad ang provincial veterinarian para ma-test agad, kasi zoonotic ito, pwede itong i-transfer sa tao. Any disease na zoonotic, especially kapag may have comorbidity, it can be fatal (The provincial veterinarian must be called immediately to be tested, because it is zoonotic, it can be transferred to humans. Any zoonotic disease, especially when a person has a comorbidity, can be fatal),” the assistant secretary said.

Palabrica said the animals positive for the infectious disease must not be consumed.

“Huwag nilang kakatayin iyon dahil nga zoonotic pwedeng ilipat sa tao, tumawag sa beterinaryo at nang ma-check nang husto. Mahirap naman na hindi na kumain ‘yung baka, anthrax na kaagad. Kailangan ng scientific and science-based analysis dito (They should not slaughter the animal because anthrax is zoonotic, meaning it can be transferred to humans. They must call the veterinarian and have it checked thoroughly. If a cow stops eating, it doesn’t immediately mean that it has anthrax. Scientific and science-based analysis is needed here),” he warned.

Palabrica said the Philippines currently only has one vaccine for anthrax.

“Well, as of now, there is only one vaccine for anthrax, kasi kailangan homologous, meaning kung ano ang tumama ‘yun din ang dapat ang i-produce, hindi tayo pwedeng kumuha ng ibang anthrax vaccine sa labas ng Pilipinas. Ang maganda [ay] mayroon tayong seed virus (Well, as of now, there is only one vaccine for anthrax, because it needs to be homologous, meaning what hit must be produced, we cannot get another anthrax vaccine outside of the Philippines. The good thing is that we have a seed virus),” he explained.

The DA’s assistant secretary for livestock noted vaccination is the only way to prevent the spread of anthrax.

Anthrax, he said, does not spread as fast as African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting domestic and feral swine of all ages.

Palabrica said ruminants, a large group of herbivores with a four-chambered stomach, are the ones usually affected by anthrax.

“Kaya nga kapag namatay [due to anthrax] kailangan ibaon sa lupa kasi spores ‘to, eh. Spores na madaling maka-transfer sa ibang animals kaya kailangan ibaon ang mga namamatay ng anthrax (That's why when they die due to anthrax, you have to bury them in the ground because it's transferred through spores. Spores that can easily be transferred to other animals, so those who die of anthrax must be buried),” he said.

“This [anthrax] is an infectious disease so you will see viremia, kapag sinabing viremia sa veterinarian, umiikot sa buong katawan ng animal (when we say viremia in veterinarian, it means that it circulates in the body of the animal),” the official added.

The DA noted that it monitored anthrax in Northern Luzon several months ago, but Palabrica said the situation is now under control. He said the agency already sent vaccines to the affected areas.

According to the website of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. 

“It occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. People can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products,” it stated.