Two suspected cases of anthrax were reported in Barangay Matalao, Sto. Niño, Cagayan, involving a 25-year-old and a 53-year-old father and son.
According to Nestor Santiago, the provincial surveillance officer of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) Cagayan, the younger patient experienced fever, chills, and small black sores on October 8, 2024.
The father exhibited symptoms on October 11, but both initially took medicine, believing they would recover without medical consultation.
Santiago stated that anthrax is suspected because the father and son were among eight individuals who butchered their dead carabao.
The carabao’s meat was sold within their barangay.
The father and son are currently being treated at Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC).
CVMC has already sent sample specimens from the two patients for laboratory testing, which will be sent to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila.
The results are expected to be available within 7 to 14 days.
