MANILA — Avoid eating beef or other meats that are “double-dead” or died before being butchered, the Department of Health (DOH) told the public Monday, saying it was one of health safety measures against the spread of anthrax.

The DOH issued the reminder following a reported outbreak of over 50 suspected human cases of anthrax last week in the Southeast Asian country of Laos.

 Anthrax is spread via a bacterium called bacillus anthracis, whose spores can be passed by eating contaminated meat or touching infected animals—often livestock like cows, sheep, and carabaos.

“Hindi po siya virus. So hindi siya tulad ng COVID or kahit ng pertussis na pwedeng lumipat sa hangin,” said Health assistant secretary Albert Domingo.

(It’s not a virus. So it’s not like COVID or even pertussis/whooping cough that can be airborne.)

The health department listed no reported anthrax health events in the Philippines so far this 2024 as of March 29.

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 Domingo said farmers and livestock personnel who may be more at risk for anthrax are more ready than the public against spreading the disease, since they are often in coordination with local veterinary offices.

 “Maaaring sila ay handa, pero tayong publiko, ‘wag na tayong pumunta sa mga lugar na ‘yon,” he said.

 (They may be ready, but us in the public, let us avoid going to those areas.)

“Number two, para sa mga namatay na baka, ‘wag na nating kainin ‘no? Huwag na po tayong kumain ng double dead na pagkain na baka at karne. Kasi maaaring makuha natin doon.

(Secondly, let’s no longer eat cows that have already died. Avoid eating ‘double dead’ meat, because anthrax may be spread there.)

Raw and undercooked meat or meat products, as well as animal carcasses may also carry the disease, the DOH added.

There were no reported anthrax cases between 2019 to 2021, and only 82 suspected anthrax cases recorded in from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023.

The DOH on Saturday said it is “closely monitoring developments” in other countries that have reported a higher than usual number of anthrax cases, while also working with the Department of Agriculture to implement preventive measures for animals.

The department added that the risk for anthrax is low in the general public, which is why available vaccines are not used for the general population.