Anthrax scare
Photo: Iqbal Ahmed / driknews
The recent anthrax scare has hit Bangladesh pretty hard. Sale of red meat has fallen as much as 92 percent, 523 people have already been infected with anthrax(DS: 17.09.10) and fresh infections are being reported almost on a daily basis. These figures have already become frighteningly large but what is most worrying is that sick cattle are still being slaughtered and consumed in rural areas. It seems that these people have absolutely no idea of anthrax contamination in the country. We want to believe the government is trying its utmost to prevent the situation from getting any worse but the facts and figures are not helping at all. With Eid-ul-Adha less than two months away, the government needs to reconsider its plans to tackle the situation. The concentration should be on the rural areas. The general people needs to be made aware of the dangers of being in contact with sick animals. A mass campaign can be introduced involving schools and colleges. This way many children coming from different families will be able to know how to tackle anthrax and later teach other family members to do the same. The teachers can play a big role here as our country people heartily respect them. The idea of involving Imams and Alems to fight anthrax is truly praiseworthy, and we desperately need more such innovative ideas. Everyone can contribute in this fight against anthrax by raising awareness amongst his or her family and community members through posters, writings, speeches- absolutely anything and everything. If we try our best, The Almighty will surely help us. If we don't want anthrax to break out into an epidemic form during the coming festival, let us act from now. Because prevention is certainly better than cure.
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