<p>The enthusiasm of Palamur University students in the Mahbubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, 170 km from here, led to chance finding of deadly anthrax in ground water of more than 26 habitations.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Dr Pawan Kumar, head of the department of microbiology, sent his students to the nearby villages to bring in water samples for a project and they collect samples of the coloured water from open water bodies and tested in the laboratory. Shocked by what he found, Dr Kumar sent the samples to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, which he said confirmed his worst fears.<br /><br />“The water has bacillus anthracis bacteria which causes anthrax, a zoonotic disease that is transmissible to humans through handling or consumption of contaminated animal products,” he said. The etiologic agent of anthrax, bacillus anthracis, is a spore forming gram-positive bacillus. <br /><br />Although anthrax can be found globally in temperate zones, it is more often a risk in countries with less standardised and less effective public health programs.<br /><br />Water samples were collected from Alampur, Devarakonda, Lingala, Aamanagallu, Atmakur, Khillaghanapuram, Papireddyguda, Midjil, and Kodangal. The water is contaminated from raw sewerage, blood and animal products from abattoirs. <br /><br />“The villagers in these places, even in a tourist spot such as Alampur, drink this water day in and day out. They are suffering from unknown diseases, many with ulcers so we want to go further and seek protected water for our people,” Venkat Reddy, a student said.<br /><br />Areas currently listed as high risk are South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and West Asia. In these regions, herbivorous animals such as deer, wildebeest, elephants and domesticated livestock such as goats, sheep, cattle, horses and swine are at highest risk for disease. <br /><br />These animals usually become infected while grazing on contaminated land, eating contaminated feed or drinking from contaminated water holes. B anthracic spores can remain viable in soil for many years. Anthrax infrequently occurs in livestock in North America. Birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish are not directly susceptible to anthrax infection. However, some carnivorous mammals such as dogs, lions, and omnivorous mammals such as swine may be susceptible to anthrax infection through consumption of meat from infected animals.<br /><br />According Dr Samuel, Superintendent of Mahbubnagar Government Hospital, humans can become infected with B anthracis by handling products or consuming undercooked meat from infected animals. Infection may also result from inhalation of B anthracis spores from contaminated animal products such as wool or the intentional release of spores during a bioterrorist attack. </p>
<p>The enthusiasm of Palamur University students in the Mahbubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, 170 km from here, led to chance finding of deadly anthrax in ground water of more than 26 habitations.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Dr Pawan Kumar, head of the department of microbiology, sent his students to the nearby villages to bring in water samples for a project and they collect samples of the coloured water from open water bodies and tested in the laboratory. Shocked by what he found, Dr Kumar sent the samples to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, which he said confirmed his worst fears.<br /><br />“The water has bacillus anthracis bacteria which causes anthrax, a zoonotic disease that is transmissible to humans through handling or consumption of contaminated animal products,” he said. The etiologic agent of anthrax, bacillus anthracis, is a spore forming gram-positive bacillus. <br /><br />Although anthrax can be found globally in temperate zones, it is more often a risk in countries with less standardised and less effective public health programs.<br /><br />Water samples were collected from Alampur, Devarakonda, Lingala, Aamanagallu, Atmakur, Khillaghanapuram, Papireddyguda, Midjil, and Kodangal. The water is contaminated from raw sewerage, blood and animal products from abattoirs. <br /><br />“The villagers in these places, even in a tourist spot such as Alampur, drink this water day in and day out. They are suffering from unknown diseases, many with ulcers so we want to go further and seek protected water for our people,” Venkat Reddy, a student said.<br /><br />Areas currently listed as high risk are South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and West Asia. In these regions, herbivorous animals such as deer, wildebeest, elephants and domesticated livestock such as goats, sheep, cattle, horses and swine are at highest risk for disease. <br /><br />These animals usually become infected while grazing on contaminated land, eating contaminated feed or drinking from contaminated water holes. B anthracic spores can remain viable in soil for many years. Anthrax infrequently occurs in livestock in North America. Birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish are not directly susceptible to anthrax infection. However, some carnivorous mammals such as dogs, lions, and omnivorous mammals such as swine may be susceptible to anthrax infection through consumption of meat from infected animals.<br /><br />According Dr Samuel, Superintendent of Mahbubnagar Government Hospital, humans can become infected with B anthracis by handling products or consuming undercooked meat from infected animals. Infection may also result from inhalation of B anthracis spores from contaminated animal products such as wool or the intentional release of spores during a bioterrorist attack. </p>