Involved receive antibiotics against anthrax preventively – Sveriges Radio

British Åkerlind’s medical officers in Region Östergötland.

– the Infectious Diseases unit becomes involved when an animal has died – to assess the risk for the people who have been in the vicinity of the dead animal. What we do then is to assess whether they may have been exposed to an infection or not. Then we are generous, and the person we give prophylactic treatment with antibiotics, says Britt Åkerlind.

– Based on the cattle died of anthrax infection, we have treated tretiotre people so far.

None of those who received antibiotics have shown any symptoms of being infected, and in the current situation is not planning to provide more people with antibiotics, says Britt Åkerlind.

So far more than ten cows and bulls and a horse and elk found to have died of anthrax at Omberg recent weeks. What is the source of infection is unclear. 4000 animals are being vaccinated against anthrax at Omberg.

Recently someone died in the anthrax in Sweden was around 60 years ago but several outbreaks of the disease have occurred since then. People can become infected with anthrax after close contact with sick, dead animals through wounds on the skin, says Britt Åkerlind. But the infection is rarely or never passed from human to human, she says.

– This is primarily an animal infection, known as zoonosis. In isolated cases, infected a person in close contact. But then rubs it not human to human. That’s why it gets so few cases.

– Any person who is infected must have direct contact with a sick or dead animal, says Britt Åkerlind.

Raina Medelius
raina.medelius@sverigesradio.se