Anthrax Cases in Yogyakarta Over the Past 5 Years: Suspected Cause of 3 Deaths

The anthrax outbreak in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, is currently under scrutiny. The transmission of this zoonotic disease is suspected to have claimed three lives in 2023.

According to Detik.com, 93 people tested positive for anthrax after consuming beef from dead cattle. This is not the first such incident in Yogyakarta.

In a press conference via the Ministry of Health's (Kemenkes) YouTube channel titled "Press Conference: Update on the Anthrax Situation in Indonesia" on Thursday (6/7/2023), the government presented the trend of anthrax cases in Yogyakarta from 2016-2023.

"This is the trend of anthrax cases in Yogyakarta; we have data from the last five years. So, there are cases almost every year, although there haven't been any deaths," stated Imran Pambudi MPHM, Director of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health.

According to him, the highest number of anthrax cases in Yogyakarta occurred in 2019 with 31 cases. The second highest number occurred in 2022, with 23 cases.

In 2023, 9 anthrax cases were recorded in Yogyakarta, marking the first death from the disease in five years.

Meanwhile, in 2018 and 2021, the Ministry of Health did not record any anthrax cases in Yogyakarta.

However, Imran also mentioned that from 2016-2022 there were no deaths. This is because the cases during that period were predominantly cutaneous anthrax. This is different from the type of anthrax that caused three deaths in 2023.

Of the three deaths, only one person was declared a suspect based on laboratory examination.

"The other two didn't undergo lab tests because they died immediately. We investigated their symptoms and they had a history of contact with cattle that died from anthrax," explained Imran.

The Ministry of Health stated that the anthrax cases and deaths in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, can be categorized as an Extraordinary Event (KLB).

"But, again, it's the regional authority's prerogative to declare it a KLB or not," added Imran.

(Also read: The Spread of the Marburg Virus, a Disease with a High Mortality Rate)