Anthrax Patient Reported in China

Suspected contact with herbivores such as cattle... Transferred to Beijing for treatment
Anthrax has a high fatality rate, used as a biochemical weapon

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] An anthrax patient has been reported in China, where COVID-19 is resurging.

Anthrax bacteria (Photo by Global Times)

The Chinese state-run Global Times reported on the 10th that an anthrax patient was confirmed in Qingde, Hebei Province, and is currently receiving isolated treatment in Beijing. Citing the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the media outlet estimated that the patient was infected with anthrax bacteria through contact with cattle and sheep.

Anthrax mainly occurs through contact with animals and skin, and can cause skin necrosis. The Global Times also reported that if infected via the respiratory tract, it can cause pneumonia, and consuming food contaminated with anthrax bacteria can also lead to anthrax.

However, it added that anthrax is not as contagious as COVID-19 and, being a bacterium, can be treated with various antibiotics.

In China, animal anthrax outbreaks occurred in 2018 in Heilongjiang Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Ningxia Autonomous Region.

The Global Times further explained that the anthrax bacteria, which cause anthrax, were used as a biological and chemical weapon by the Japanese military during World War II, emphasizing that anthrax bacteria are highly lethal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.