Croatia Confirms New Anthrax Cases in Livestock

The news in Croatian

1. zabrinutost  (f.)
   Stanje kada je osoba ili grupa ljudi uznemirena ili tjeskobna zbog nečega. ↩︎
2. potvrditi
   Utvrditi istinitost ili točnost nečega. ↩︎
3. regija  (f.)
   Šire geografsko područje koje može imati posebne karakteristike ili administrativne granice. ↩︎
4. planirati
   Pripremiti ili osmisliti što će se raditi u budućnosti. ↩︎
5. ograničiti
   Postaviti granice ili smanjiti količinu nečega. ↩︎
6. probava  (f.)
   Proces u kojem tijelo razgrađuje hranu kako bi iskoristilo hranjive tvari. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Where in Croatia have new anthrax cases in livestock been confirmed?

Question 2: What measures has the government taken in response to the anthrax cases?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
zabrinutost  (f.)	concern
potvrditi	confirm
regija  (f.)	region
planirati	plan
ograničiti	restrict
probava  (f.)	digestion

Read the full story

The latest outbreak of anthrax has raised concern in Croatia as four more cases have been confirmed in livestock across various regions. According to reports, the new cases are concentrated in the areas around Drniš and the municipalities of Biskupija and Civljane within the Šibenik-Knin County, where vaccination is yet to commence, as detailed by several news sources.

Anthrax, known locally as ‘bedrenica’, poses a serious threat to both animals and humans. It is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which produces resilient spores that can survive in harsh environmental conditions for extended periods, even decades. These spores contaminate vegetation, which grazing animals then consume, leading to rapid infections often marked by sudden animal deaths.

In response to the disease’s resurgence, the government has designated the affected area a ‘bedrenički distrikt‘, enforcing restrictions on animal product sales and movement. The vaccination campaign for livestock began earlier this week, with over 1,100 animals vaccinated on the first day, explained David Vlajčić, Croatia’s Minister of Agriculture. A comprehensive plan aims to vaccinate more than 45,000 animals in the following weeks.

Media reports highlight that Croatian Veterinary Institute has processed 48 samples from dead livestock, with seven returning positive results for anthrax. However, the progression of decay in some samples complicated testing, with 20 deemed unsuitable for further bacteriological analysis.

Anthrax symptoms in animals usually appear suddenly and include staggering, convulsions, digestive issues, and respiratory distress. In humans, anthrax manifests in three forms depending on the route of exposure: cutaneous, inhalation, and intestinal. Each form carries significant health risks, with cutaneous anthrax being the most common and typically present as painless skin lesions.

Significantly, Minister Vlajčić urged local farmers to comply with biosecurity measures, maintain vigilance, and adhere to the veterinary guidelines to prevent further spread. As the situation develops, authorities are also looking out for other potential diseases, ensuring comprehensive diagnostic evaluations of additional specimens to thoroughly understand the outbreak’s scope.

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