Anthrax scare in Turkish village

A wave of anthrax has swept through a Turkish village sending residents into panic. The virus was discovered in the village of Cukurca in the southeast province of Bingol when a villager feeling terribly sick was taken to the local hospital. Following the diagnoses of anthrax in the villager, the Turkish Health Authorities conducted further examinations of residents of the village and discovered seven other cases. The village was then immediately quarantined. Two children aged nine and 10, brother and sister are currently in a life-threatening condition, the diagnosing doctor said on Tuesday. The movement of animals was also immediately restricted and all meat products were being destroyed, said officials. According to the father of the sick children, Mehmet Bayiltmis, up to 85 sheep and goats have died in the past week, and a vert who was called to the village said there was nothing to worry about. "He (the vet) told us we could eat the meat of the animals except the internal organs. So some villagers gave the meat of the dead animals to relatives and others sent their sick animals to butchers in Bingol," he said. Adding that, "We called the vet again when more animals died. This time he told us it was anthrax." Occasional cases of Anthrax are found in Turkey, however, Turkish officials say that the disease is under control.Â