Thailand reports first anthrax death in decades hundreds potentially exposed

BANGKOK – Thailand has reported its first anthrax-related death in decades with two infections nationwide, prompting a public health alert after the authorities identified hundreds potentially exposed to the deadly bacteria, officials said on May 1.

A 53-year-old man in Mukdahan province in north-eastern Thailand, near the border with Laos, died on April 30 after contracting anthrax, the government said, with a second case confirmed in the same province and three additional suspected cases under investigation.

The authorities have identified at least 638 people as potentially exposed after eating raw meat. Among them, 36 had participated in butchering livestock while the rest had consumed raw or undercooked beef, health officials said. All are receiving antibiotics as part of containment measures.

“All individuals who may have been in contact with infected meat are being monitored,” the Health Ministry said.

The Livestock Department is overseeing containment efforts in the affected area, including a 5km quarantine zone around the infection site, the Agriculture Ministry said.

There are plans to vaccinate 1,222 cattle, though no animals have shown signs of illness or unexplained death, it added.

Anthrax is a rare but serious disease caused by bacteria often transmitted through contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated meat. It is not spread from person to person.

Thailand last reported human anthrax cases in 2017, when two people were infected but did not die. In 2000, 15 cases were recorded, also without deaths.

The April 30 death was the first anthrax death in Thailand since 1994 when three people died, and follows a rise in regional infections. Laos reported 129 anthrax infections in 2024, including one death, while Vietnam confirmed 13 cases in May 2023.

Thai authorities are continuing investigations into the source of the infection and said they would maintain heightened surveillance in border