Baharampur: Two persons were today (Jun 6, 2004) diagnosed with anthrax at Hariharpara in Mushidabad district of West Bengal, health officials said.

CMOH Dr S Sarkar said Abu Sayeed (36) and Roufen Nasa (21) were diagnosed with anthrax after they consulted a doctor today.

The patients who had developed abscess on their hands for the last 15 days had eaten mutton of a diseased animal, Dr Sarkar said.

On receiving information about the disease, a medical team was rushed to the area and its adjoining villages.

The CMOH said that preventive medicines have been distributed in the area and cattle owners have been asked to vaccinate their livestock.

Over 30 people have been affected with the disease in the nearby areas in the last two months, the CMOH said.