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KARACHI, Oct 24: The Sindh health department has said no case of anthrax has been reported from any part of the province.
Sources in the health department told APP on Wednesday that adequate measures had been adopted against any possible outbreak of anthrax. Veterinary doctors, both in government and private establishments, have been issued urgent directives to ensure vaccination of cattle that might carry anthrax virus.
Steps have been taken to have sufficient stock of penicillin, doxycycline and ciprofloxacin. Penicillin can be administered both intravenously and orally.
Senior doctors at Civil Hospital advised people not to get scared by the totally baseless rumours about anthrax.
Prof Ms D. S. Akram of Civil Hospital said no case of anthrax had been registered at the hospital. She advised people to ensure that they and their children did not come into direct contact with roaming cattle. She also recommended the need for proper attention to general hygiene.
She said to be effective as a convert agent anthrax has to be aerosolized into very small particles. If these small particles are inhaled, life- threatening lung infection can occur. Prompt detection is important in treatment of anthrax.
POST OFFICES: The Pakistan Post Office has adopted special precautionary measures in view of the anthrax scare in the world. The staff at Karachi Foreign Post, International Cell Office and Express Post handling letters and parcels had been provided with special gloves and masks, said a PPO statement here on Wednesday.
It said the staff had been given strict orders that while performing duty they should wear these gloves and masks.
The Post Master-General, Qamar Afzal Jameel, has asked the staff that in case of presence of any suspicious letter or parcel they should immediately inform the officials concerned so that such material can be examined in laboratory.—APP
