Nine individuals who had contact with infected livestock in the Samux district have been placed in isolation at the infectious diseases department of the Ganja City United Hospital named after Abbas Sahhat, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of Health, the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Administration of Regional Medical Divisions (TABIB).
The Operative Information Center-OMM reported that initial epidemiological investigations confirmed a case of anthrax in the region. Following the identification of a patient who tested positive for the disease, authorities traced all individuals who had direct contact with the infected animals. These contacts, primarily residents of the Samux district, are currently under medical supervision, and samples have been sent to the Shamkir Regional Center for Control of Especially Dangerous Infections for laboratory analysis.
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which is naturally found in soil and commonly affects livestock globally. Health officials emphasized that the disease is primarily transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected or deceased animals, or their contaminated tissues and products. Transmission from person to person is extremely rare. Furthermore, the consumption of properly thermally processed meat from infected animals does not pose a risk of infection. Authorities have stated that the situation is under control, with necessary epidemiological measures being implemented to prevent any spread, and there is no cause for public alarm.
