Eight employee of Khujand-based private kindergarten “Navbahor” have been hospitalized on suspicion of contracting anthrax.  Tests of three of them for anthrax bacteria have proved negative. 

Eight employee of the Khujand-based private kindergarten “Navbahor” were hospitalized last week on suspicion of contracting anthrax.

“Tests of three of them for anthrax bacteria have proved negative,” Umed Ghiyosov, the head physician of the Sughd Center for Epidemiological and Sanitary Supervision, told Asia-Plus on August 28.  According to him, the tests of five other employees will be ready today evening.   

On August 23, the head of the “Navbahor” kindergarten distributed beef meat to the kindergarten employees on the occasion of Idi Qurbon or Eid al-Adha holiday. 

On August 25, one of the kindergarten teachers felt bad and consulted a doctor.  She reportedly had ulcers on the skin and was hospitalized on suspicion of contracting anthrax.

Seven other employees of the kindergarten were also hospitalized on August 27 on suspicion of contracting anthrax.      

The Khujand prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the case. 

For the last time cases of anthrax were revealed in Tajikistan in 2013.  They were reportedly revealed in the northern Sughd province.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease that commonly infects wild and domesticated mammals that ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Infection in humans typically occurs in individuals closest to the animals, during slaughtering, meat processing, or by contact with animal products such as leather, fur, and wool.