Three cases of anthrax have been reported in Rustaq district in the northeastern province of Takhar, local sources said on Saturday.
Anthrax, also known as “black fever,” is a rare but serious bacterial disease that primarily affects livestock and wild animals but can spread to humans through contact with infected animals or the consumption of contaminated meat.
According to the sources, those infected in Takhar include a woman, a man, and a child who fell ill after eating the meat of a contaminated sheep. Medical sources told Amu that several other residents in the Kokcha region of Takhar have recently developed similar symptoms after consuming infected meat.
The sources said a lack of public awareness and poor veterinary oversight under Taliban authorities have worsened the situation. At least one person has reportedly died from the disease.
Residents have called on the Taliban’s agriculture and public health departments in Takhar to take urgent measures to prevent further spread.
Afghanistan’s health system remains severely strained, with most public clinics dependent on international aid. According to the United Nations, nearly 97 percent of the country’s public health services are funded by donors, and frequent shortages of medicine, staff, and diagnostic equipment have hampered disease detection and response efforts in rural areas.
